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CTJMZiluMiEq&H 


CALENDAR  OF  MADRAS  DEPAfCHES 


1 -7-44-55 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


E.  Cambray  &  Co.  Private  Ltd. 

CALCUTTA. 


CALENDAR 


uf  Tin: 


MADRAS  DESPATCHES 


1744-1755 


BY 


HENRY  DODWELL 

M.A.   (OXON.),   F.K.   HIST.  S. 

CURATOR    OF    THE    MADRAS    RECORD   OFFICE 


* 


^7/ 


MADRAS  GOVERNMENT  PRESS 
19  20 


INTRODUCTION 


I 


/9*d 


The  following  pages  contain  an  abstract  of  the  despatches 
exchanged  between  the  East  India  Company  and  its  princi- 
pal Council  on  the  Coromandel  Coast.  The  bulk  of  the 
documents  here  calendared  occur  in  the  Madras  series  of 
records  called  Despatches  to  and  from  England ;  and  certain 
documents  have  been  included  here — although  not  despatches 
— partly  because  they  explain  matters  which  the  despatches 
leave  untouched,  but  mainly  because  they  occur  in  the 
despatch  volumes  themselves.  The  treatment  accorded  to 
these  enclosures  to  despatches  (for  that  is  what  they  really 
are)  has  been  varied  according  to  their  nature  and  import- 
ance. Occasional  papers  of  little  moment  have  been 
relegated  to  a  foot-note  at  the  appropriate  point  of  the 
covering  despatch.  Documents  of  greater  interest,  such  as 
those  relating  to  the  Anglo-French  negotiations  of  1753,  are 
treated  as  separate  items.  Papers  ot  a  regularly  recurrent 
nature,  such  as  lists  of  the  investment,  lists  of  recruits,  and 
the  like,  will  be  found  in  tabulated  form  in  the  Appendix. 

The  reader  will  also  observe  that  the  present  volume 
includes  a  number  of  papers  which  are  not  preserved  in  the 
Madras  Record  Office.  In  order  to  secure  the  completeness 
of  the  series,  Mr.  William  Foster.  c.i.E.,  has  been  good 
enough  to  supply  me  with  transcripts  of  the  despatches 
preserved  at  the  India  Office  but  missing  here.  These  are 
marked  '  India  Office  transcript'  at  the  end  of  the  descrip- 
tive heading.  Of  these  transcripts,  some  are  taken  from  the 
original  document  or  a  contemporary  copy  ;  but  for  man)-, 
the  only  representative  that  has  survived  is  the  contemporary 
precis  made  for  official  use,  and  preserved  in  the  series 
known  at  the  India  Office  as  '  The  Coast  and  Bay  Abstracts.' 
In  many  passages  these  old  precis  are  wofully  ambiguous  ; 


a  or-o«~*-«  a 


iv  INTRODUCTION 

and  where  this  is  so,  I  have  simply  reprinted  the  precis  as  it 
stands. 

A  word  of  explanation  is  needed  on  the  arrangement  of 
the  present  volume.  Despatches  were  normally  written 
whenever  a  ship  or  group  of  ships  was  ready  to  sail.  The 
outward  sailings,  so  far  as  Madras  was  concerned,  were 
generally  two  in  number.  At  the  end  of  December  or  early 
in  January,  the  Company  sent  out  its  Coast  and  China  ships, 
which  carried  bullion  to  Madras  and  then  proceeded  to 
Canton.  A  few  weeks  later  the  Coast  and  Bay  ships  were 
despatched.  These  carried  bullion  and  cargo  for  both 
Madras  and  Bengal.  These  two  groups  provided  conveyance 
for  two  regular cespatches  to  the  East.  Sometimes  a  special 
ship  was  made  ready  earlier  than  usual;  sometimes  a  ship 
was  detained,  by  accident  or  design,  after  the  rest  had  sailed. 
These  account  for  supplementary  despatches.  But  it  seldom 
happened  that  these  letters  from  the  Company  fell  outside 
the  months  October — April.  The  despatches  from  Madras 
were  similarly  conditioned.  It  was  usual  to  lade  one  ship 
home  in  September  or  early  October,  and  others  in  the 
following  January  or  February  ;  so  that,  except  during  the 
confusion  which  followed  the  loss  of  Madras  in  1746,  the 
homeward  despatches  fall  as  a  rule  within  the  months  Sep- 
tember—  March.  Thus  both  sets  of  despatches,  if  we  except 
those  occasionally  sent  overland,  fall  into  a  quite  definite 
system  which  regularly  overlaps  the  beginning  of  the  modern 
calendar  year.  It  seemed  best  therefore  to  group  the 
despatches  by  seasons,  instead  of  calendar  years  ;  and  under 
each  season  the  reader  will  find,  first,  the  letters  sent  home 
from  the  Coast,  and,  then,  those  written  to  the  Coast  from 
London. 

Finally  the  despatches  to  England  tend  more  and  more 
to  fall  into  two  groups,  one  dealing  with  the  Company's 
trade,  the  other  with  political  and  military  events.  At  first 
the  second  category  is  represented  only  by  occasional  letters 
written  and  signed   by    the  Governor  alone.     Later,  when  a 


INTRODUCTION  V 

Committee  for  Country  Affairs  was  formed  within  the 
Council  itself,  we  find  '  separate  despatches  '  emanating  from 
the  smaller  body,  and  thus  distinguished  from  the  '  general 
despatches'  which  constitute  the  normal  document  when  the 
present  volume  opens.  Later  still,  a  separate  despatch'  is 
merely  one  dealing  with  confidential  or  political  matters,  no 
matter  whether  signed  by  a  Committee  of  the  Council  or  by 
the  whole  Council  itself. 

II 

The  documents  thus  brought  together  embrace  the 
despatches  from  England  of  1744  (which  would  have  found  a 
place  according  to  their  date  of  receipt  in  the  Calendar  of  the 
Madras  Records  for  1745,  had  the  Calendar  been  continued 
on  the  plan  on  which  it  was  begun1),  down  to  the  despatches 
to  England  of  the  season  1754-55.  The  years  thus  covered 
fall  from  a  political  point  of  view  into  two  distinct  periods  :  — 
(1)  1744-49,  the  period  of  the  War  of  the  Austrian  Succes- 
sion ;  and  (2)  1749-54,  the  period  of  the  greatness  and 
downfall  of  Dupleix.  It  is  unnecessary  here  to  re-tell  the 
familiar  story,  for  I  have  already  dealt  with  it  at  some  length 
elsewhere'2.  But  it  is  worth  wThile  to  dwell  for  a  moment 
on  the  development  of  political  consciousness,  the  early- 
stages  of  which  are  revealed  in  the  letters  now  calendared. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  period,  neither  the  Company  nor 
its  servants  on  the  Coast  have  the  faintest  presentiment  of 
their  political  destiny.  For  example,  the  Company  expresses 
its  pleasure  that  Madras  should  have  become  the  temporary 
capital  of  the  Carnatic  as  the  place  of  residence  of  the  child 
who  for  a  few  months  reigned  in  the  place  of  his  murdered 
father,  Safdar  'AH  Khan3.  But  the  benefits  to  be  derived 
from  such  a  residence  were  limited  to  the  grant  of  two  or 
three  paltry  villages.  The  expense  involved  quickly  disgust- 
ed the  Directors  of  the  Company.     They  gave  orders  that  in 


1  See  my  '  Calendar  of  the  Madras  Records,  1740-44/  Madras,  1917. 

2  See  my  '  Duplet \\  and  CUve,'  Methuen,  1920. 
*  Infra,  p.  2. 


vi  INTRODUCTION 

future  the  entertainment  of  such  guests  was  to  be  avoided. 
On  no  account  was  money  to  be  lent  to  the  Country  princes. 
Have  as  little  to  do  with  them  as  possible,  was  the  burden 
of  the  despatches  from  London  ;  do  not  trust  them  more  than 
you  can  help  ;  do  not  give  them  larger  presents  than  is 
absolutely  necessary1. 

Such  was  the  attitude,  not  only  of  the  Company,  but  also 
of  its  servants  in  the  East,  until  both  were  driven  to  inter- 
vention by  the  situation  established  by  French  activity  in 
1749.  Even  then,  trade  remained  their  chief  pre-occupation. 
It  was  the  threat  of  being  encircled  by  French  territory  and 
having  to  pay  imposts  established  by  French  rivals  that  really- 
forced  the  English  to  intervene  in  the  politics  of  the  South. - 
It  was  trade  interests  that  disposed  the  English  to  accept 
the  disadvantageous  terms  of  the  treaty  of  1754  with 
Godeheu.  It  was  still  that  punctuality  and  exactness  which 
are  essential  to  great  trade  activity  which  the  Company 
demanded  from  its  principal  servants. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  period,  the  political  authority  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  President  and  Council  of  Fort  St.  George. 
When  La  Bourdonnais  captured  Madras  in  1746,  the  sub- 
ordinate Council  at  St.  David's  at  once  assumed  control  of 
the  English  factories  and  interests  on  the  Coast,  in  which 
it  was  subsequently  confirmed  by  the  Company.  Thus 
Nicholas  Morse  and  the  senior  servants  on  the  Coast  were 
replaced  by  John  Hinde  and  the  Councillors  of  St.  David's. 
Hinde  died  early  in  1747,  and  was  succeeded  by  Charles 
Floyer,  who  thus  was  in  possession  of  that  extensive  influence 
which  the  Governor  enjoyed,  in  fact  if  not  in  theory,  at  the 
moment  when  the  English  decided  to  abandon  their  political 
inactivity  and  support  the  Nawab  whose  family  the  French 
had  attacked  and  expelled  from  the  Carnatic  in  1749. 

The  fact  that  so  decisive  a  step  should  have  been  taken 
by  so  colourless  a  person  is  but  another  proof — were  more 
proof  wanted — that  the  English  were  impelled  to  take  their 


*  " 

1  Infra,  pp.  15  and  56.  2  Infra,  pp.  8l  and  121. 


INTRODUCTION  vii 

part,  not  by  political  prevision,  but  by  the  tyrannous  force  of 
circumstances.  Floyer  seems  to  have  been  a  cheerful 
convivial  companion  ;  he  was  a  better  partner  at  the 
card-table  than  in  the  counting-house;  and  before  he  was 
dismissed  by  the  Company  for  gaming,  had  given  it  by  his 
casual  ways  a  thousand  causes  for  displeasure.  The  Com- 
pany's bales  would  be  found  to  contain  more  than  one  kind 
of  cloth  ;  and  that  short  in  measure  and  deficient  in  number. 
The  Company's  merchants  under  his  lax  rule  would  promise 
3,000  bales,  and  then  explain  that  it  was  all  a  mistake,  for 
they  had  meant  only  half  as  much.  The  bills  sent  home  for 
expenditure  incurred  on  the  seamen  of  H.  M.'s  Squadron  in 
the  Company's  hospital  were  rejected  by  the  Admiralty  on 
account  of  their  errors  and  irregularities.  Did  the  Company 
call  for  an  account  of  the  expenditure  incurred  at  Madras 
during  the  siege,  Floyer  and  his  Council  would  content 
themselves  with  registering  the  amount  of  the  claims  without 
inquiring  into  their  validity.  Buildings  would  cost  double 
their  original  estimates.  Embassies  would  be  sent  which 
secured  no  advantages  but  cost  10,000  Pagodas.  The 
ancient  rule  which  had  guided  the  English  on  the  Coast  for 
a  hundred  years — that  all  business  of  importance  should  be 
settled  in  Council — was  broken  through  ;  and  an  expedition 
was  set  out  to  invade  the  territory  of  a  neighbouring  prince 
and  capture  one  of  his  towns,  without  the  matter  beino- 
broached  in  Council  until  the  men  were  on  the  march. 
Never  before  had  the  Company's  funds  been  so  lavishly 
expended,  or  to  so  little  purpose. 

In  the  middle  of  1750,  therefore,  Floyer  and  his  Council 
were  dismissed,  and  a  new  Governor  and  Council  appointed. 
Floyer's  successor  was  Thomas  Saunders,  Chief  of  Vizaga- 
patam,  and  in  all  respects  his  opposite.  Floyer,  we  imagine, 
was  a  gay,  lively,  volatile  fellow  ;  Saunders  was,  if  not  actually 
morose,  a  man  of  impenetrable  reserve.  Floyer,  like  his 
predecessors,  had  maintained  a  table  at  which  all  persons  of 
respectable  rank  in  the  settlement  were   welcome  ;  Saunders 


vijj  INTRODUCTION 

ate  his  dinner  alone.  His  conversation  was  as  sparing  and 
trenchant  as  the  other's  was  copious  and  versatile.  He  was 
a  man  too  of  amazing  persistence  and  common-sense.  Orme 
once  said  of  him  that  he  had  never  met  a  man  he  would  fear 
more  as  an  enemy.  He  was  wealthy,  and  was  looking  rather 
to  remit  his  fortune  home  on  good  terms  than  to  increase  it. 
His  policy  then  had  no  under-meaning,  but  was  direct  and 
single.  Perhaps  he  was  not  a  great  man  ;  but  he  was  indeed 
one  of  those  (of  whom  the  English  race  has  produced  many 
examples)  who  do  great  things  by  means  of  their  good  sense 
and  imperturbability.  You  could  not  startle  or  alarm  him 
into  a  foolish  act.  To  him,  equally  with  Lawrence  and  Clive, 
was  due  the  defeat  and  recall  of  Dupleix.  He  remained 
Governor  until  January,  1755;  and  then,  his  work  accom- 
plished and  fortune  transmitted  to  England,  he  returned  to 
build  him  a  mansion,  marry  a  wife,  and  enjoy  the  remainder 
of  his  days  amidst  the  scenes  of  his  boyhood. 

Meanwhile  the  seat  of  Government  had  been  transferred 
once  more  to  Fort  St.  George.  The  southern  settlement, 
in  spite  of  its  proximity  to  large  weaving  districts,  such  as 
Chennappanayakanpalaiyam,  was  in  other  ways  little  fitted 
to  be  the  head-quarters  of  a  great  trade.  It  lacked  the 
spacious  warehouses  and  offices  which  had  long  before  been 
built  at  Madras  Above  all,  while  at  both  ships  had  to  lie 
in  open  roads,  yet  at  Madras  vessels  could  anchor  much 
nearer  in  ;  and  the  masula-boats,  used  to  lade  and  unlade  them, 
could  make  half-a-dozen  trips  there  for  one  at  Fort  St. 
David.  Accordingly,  when  both  Floyer's  and  Saunders' 
Council  had  reported  on  these  matters,  the  Company 
consented  to  the  remove,  and  Madras  became  the  Presidency 
again  on  April  5,  1752. 

Just  as  these  eventful  years  witnessed  the  slow  and 
painful  birth  of  a  political  policy,  so  also  they  witnessed 
the  first  development  of  a  knot  of  scattered  and  inefficient 
garrisons  into  an  organised  army  capable  of  supporting  and 
defending  a  policy   in  the  field.     When   the   first    of  these 


INTRODUCTION  ix 

despatches  was  written,  the  highest  officers  in  the  English 
service  on  the  Coast  were  Lieutenants  (styled  Captains  by 
courtesy)  commanding  companies.  The  Artillery  consisted 
of  what  was  called  the  '  gun-room  crew,'  in  which  the  officers 
did  not  receive  commissions  at  all.  So  pervasive  was  the 
commercial  spirit  of  the  society  in  which  they  lived,  that  the 
Council  justifies  an  increase  in  their  scanty  pay  by  observing 
that  of  late  they  have  had  small  chance  of  making  anything 
by  trade.  Such  conditions  did  not  make  for  military  spirit 
or  efficiency.  When  Madras  was  attacked  in  1746,  the 
conduct  of  the  defence  proved  that  the  officers  neither  knew 
how  to  defend  themselves  nor  could  command  the  obedience 
of  their  men.  This  was  indeed  what  one  would  expect  to 
find  in  a  colonial  garrison  of  that  day.  Madras  was  probably 
no  worse  than  any  other  English  colonial  fortress  in  any 
other  quarter  of  the  globe. 

But  on  January  28,  1748,  there  arrived  at  St.  David's 
Major  Stringer  Lawrence,  deservedly  called,  '  the  Father  of 
the  Indian  Army'.  He  was  born  in  1698.  In  171 1  he  had 
accompanied  Lord  Peterborough  as  a  page  on  his  embassy 
to  the  Emperor  Joseph,  and  continued  for  the  most  part  in 
that  nobleman's  service  until  1726  when  he  went  as  a 
volunteer  to  the  siege  of  Gibraltar.  In  the  following  year 
he  bought  his  commission  as  ensign  in  Clayton's  Foot  (now 
the  West  Yorks)  and  served  in  that  regiment  for  the  next 
nineteen  years, — until  1743  at  Gibraltar,  and  then  in 
Flanders  and  Scotland1.  He  thus  brought  to  India  what 
was  sadly  needed — the  English  discipline  and  a  knowledge 
of  war.  As  soon  as  he  arrived,  he  set  to  work  to  drill  and 
discipline  his  command  into  shape,  so  that,  when  the 
Company  sent  out  a  set  of  new  Military  Regulations,  Council 
was  able  to  report  that  almost  all  had  been  adopted  before 
their  arrival. 

But  his  first  period  of  service  on  the  Coast  was  brief  and 
(to   tell    the   truth)    inglorious.     At     Boscawen's    siege    of 

1  Memorandum  of  Lawrence's  services,  endorsed  1759,  ap.  Chatham  Mss.  j-48. 
B 


x  INTRODUCTION 

Pondichery,  he  was  made  prisoner  almost  as  soon  as  the 
siege  began.  In  1750  indeed  he  commanded  the  English 
auxiliaries  who  joined  Nasir  Jang  ;  but  the  excellent  advice 
which  he  gave  that  potentate  was  rejected  ;  and  he  marched 
back  again  to  St.  David's  having  accomplished  nothing.     In 

the  following  September  he  resigned, 

His  reason  for  this  is  far  too  characteristic  of  the  age  and 
the  man  to  be  passed  over.  He  had  been  appointed  on  the 
same  terms  as  Major  Knipe,  i.e.,  ^250  a  year1.  However 
at  his  arrival,  Madras  and  its  records  were  still  in  French 
hands,  and  no  one  knew  what  Knipe's  salary  had  been.  He 
was  accordingly  given  ^300  a  year  with  allowances  which 
came  up  to  as  much  again.  In  this  the  Company  at  first 
acquiesced  ;  but  long  meditation  on  the  iniquity  of  Floyer 
and  his  Council  convinced  the  Directors  that  this  too  must 
have  been  a  job  ;  so  the  increase  was  cut  off.  On  this  he 
resigned  and  went  home2.  I  cannot  feel  that  any  one  comes 
out  of  this  very  well.  The  Company  had  no  business  to 
play  fast  and  loose  with  its  terms  of  service  ;  it  should  at 
least  have  kept  its  word.  Lawrence  too  manifests  a 
greater  regard  for  money  than  is  quite  pleasant.  He  succeeds 
in  making  the  Council  give  him  twice  as  much  as  he  had 
agreed  on,  and  resigns  in  a  huff  when  he  is  reduced  to  his 
original  terms.  All  this  is  of  course  immensely  natural  ;  but 
we  can  hardly  call  it  heroic.  An  inclination  to  overvalue 
money  was  indeed  a  vice  of  Lawrence's  character.  At  a 
later  date,  he  was  always  affecting  poverty,  and  yet  we  are 
told,  he  had  saved  £  10,000. 3  Avarice  was  not  the  exclusive 
privilege  of  the  Company's  covenanted  servants. 

Nor  yet  was  it  incompatible  with  the  greatest  gallantry. 
The  Old  Cock,  as  his  officers  affectionately  styled  Lawrence, 
was  one  of  those  cool-headed,  clear-sighted  tacticians  whose 
skill    has    been    displayed    on  numberless    battle-fields    and 


1  Calendar  of  the  Madras  Records,  1740-44,  p.  352. 

2  Infra,  pp.  44,  52,  76,  109,  no  and  116. 

3  Orme  to  Payne,  November  16,  1757.    {Orrne  Mss.  Various,\28.  i,  215.) 


INTRODUCTION  xi 

whose  exploits  constitute  well  nigh  the  whole  of  our  military- 
history.  In  1752  he  returned,  after  having  extracted  from 
the  Company  new  terms  even  better  than  those  which  he 
had  lost  in  17501 ;  and  with  hardly  a  day's  delay  he  marched 
to  overthrow  the  French  before  Trichinopoly.  Within  three 
months  the  French  forces  before  that  city  had  surrendered 
and  Chunda  Sahib  had  been  beheaded.  This  wa^  the  great 
blow  which  brought  about  the  recall  of  Dupleix. 

Nor  was  this  the  only  blow.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same 
year  he  destroyed  another  French  force  at  Bahur,  between 
St.  David's  and  Pondichery.  In  1753,  in  spite  of  attacks  of 
asthma,  he  routed  the  French  commanders  one  by  one, 
whenever  they  ventured  within  the  reach  of  those  gallant 
grenadiers  whom  Orme  has  so  eloquently  commemorated. 
In  the  next  year,  his  health  admitted  of  less  activity.  He 
had  for  instance  to  watch  from  the  top  of  one  of  the  gates  of 
Trichinopoly,  while  Captain  Caillaud  fought  his  way  through 
an  overwhelming  number  of  the  enemy2.  But  officers  and 
men  were  by  then  alike  inspired  by  his  spirit.  Able  leaders 
were  not  wanting.  The  army  had  been  firmly  welded 
together  by  four  years  of  incessant  fighting,  and  was  a  very 
different  body  from  that  which  in  1751  had  hurriedly  retired 
before  Chunda  Sahib  and  the  French  under  the  walls  of 
Trichinopoly.  The  weapon  had  been  forged  for  the  conquest 
of  Bengal. 

Ill 

Administration,  within  the  narrow  limits  of  the  Com- 
pany's power,  continued  very  much  on  the  ancient 
lines ;  and  the  present  volume  contains  allusion  to  one 
notable  proof  that  on  the  whole  it  weighed  but  lightly  on  the 
Indian  inhabitants  of  Madras.  In  September,  .  1746,  the 
city  was  surrendered  to  La  Bourdonnais  ;  in  the  following 
month,  he  delivered  it  over  to  people  nominated  by 
Dupleix,  who  at  once  set  to  work  to  transplant  the  wealthy 

1  Infra,  p.  157.  2  Orme.     History,  Vol.  1,  p.  356. 


xii  INTRODUCTION 

merchants  from  Madras  to  Pondichery.  He  spared  no  pro- 
mises or  threats.  The  Black  Town  was  pillaged.  Half  of 
it  was  pulled  down.  The  merchants  were  ordered  to  deposit 
their  goods  in  the  fort  and  assemble  on  a  certain  day  to  be 
carried  to  the  French  settlement.  But  all  was  vain.  Except 
a  few  penniless  rascals  who  hoped  to  profit  by  the  change, 
not  a  man  would  go.  The  Chettis  and  Vaisyas  and  weavers 
remained  obstinately  in  the  country,  and  redeemed  what 
property  they  still  had  in  Madras  by  bribing  the  Frenchmen 
in  authority.  But  when  in  August,  1749,  Boscawen  and 
Lawrence  hoisted  the  union-flag  once  more  over  Fort  St. 
George,  the/merchants  came  flocking  back  to  their  ruined 
homes  as  gladly  as  if  each  had  received  a  fortune — a  testi- 
mony honourable  alike  to  them  and  to  the  English. 

It  is  likely  that  Madras  was  administered  less  excellently 
while  it  was  a  subordinate  factory,  than  when  it  had  been  the 
head-place  upon  the  Coast.  The  Chief  was  Richard  Prince, 
of  whom  little  is  known,  but  that  little  is  unfavourable.  The 
Company  at  all  events  believed  that  he  exacted  heavy  contri- 
butions for  allowing  the  old  inhabitants  to  return.  Ranga 
Pillai  at  Pondichery  heard  stories  of  the  injustice  he  inflicted 
on  various  persons,  among  others  one  who  perhaps  was  a 
orandson  of  the  famous  adventurer,  Constantine  Phalkon, 
degenerated  into  a  mere  captain  of  country  shipping1.  On  one 
occasion  at  least  Prince's  dubash  was  summoned  before  Council 
for  extortion — an  indignity  which  his  master  bore  but  sulkily'2. 

When  however  the  Government  returned  thither  in  1752, 
it  is  likely  that  whatever  was  wrong  was  speedily  amended, 
a  reform  which  must  have  been  assisted  by  the  new  charter, 
transmitted  in  1753.  establishing  anew  the  old  Mayor's  Court 
and  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  which  were  held  to  have  been 
dissolved  by  the  capture  of  Madras.  Besides  these  two  old 
courts  for  the  administration  of  civil  and  criminal  justice,  a  new 
court,  the  Court  of  Requests,  was  also  set  up,  to  hear   petty 


1  Diary  of  Ananda  Ranga  Pillai,  Vol.  vii,  p.  380  and  n.  2. 

2  Public  Consultations,  August  15,  1750. 


INTRODUCTION  xin 

causes  in  which  the  subject  of  dispute  did  not  exceed  in  value 
5  Pagodas — 40s.  sterling.  Besides  these  courts,  under  a 
statute  of  William  III,  the  President  and  Council  were 
empowered  to  sit  as  a  Court  of  Admiralty  to  try  cases  of 
piracy  and  other  crime  committed  on  the  high  seas  ;  and  for 
this  purpose  a  special  commission  was  issued  at  the  begin- 
ning of  each  reign. 

On  the  whole,  justice  seems  to  have  been  tolerably  well 
administered  by  these  tribunals.  One  complaint  was  made 
in  1754,  but  the  complainant,  Ephraim  Isaac,  seems  to  have 
been  rather  a  paltry  fellow.  He  is  reported  to  have  accused 
one  of  the  aldermen  of  the  Mayor's  Court  of  giving  dinners 
to  two  others  in  order  to  make  them  stick  to  him.  When 
the  President  and  Council  desired  his  explanation  of  such  a 
charge,  he  alleged  no  other  justification  than  that  the  offend- 
ing alderman  was  more  conversant  with  '  Hoyle's  History  of 
the  four  Kings  '  than  with  the  law-books  sent  out  by  the 
Honourable  Company1 ;  and  his  temper  is  probably  indicated 
by  the  fact  that  he  declined  to  answer  the  President  and 
Council  as  such,  but  addressed  his  answer  to  !  Thomas 
Saunders  and  other  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace.'  We 
shall  meet  with  him  again  in  the  next  volume. 

In  1 75 1  we  find  the  beginning  of  what  is  now  a  most  im- 
portant branch  of  administration — that  of  the  Land  Revenue. 
Our  support  of  Muhammad  'All  Khan  led  naturally  to  the 
grant  of  land  round  Madras,  intended  to  meet  the  cost  of  the 
troops  employed  in  the  Nawab's  protection.  This  was  the 
tract  subsequently  known  as  the  Company's  Jagir,  and  the 
estimated  revenue  was  2  lakhs.  The  manner  in  which  this 
was  dealt  with  affords  the  classic  example  of  what  is  usually 
considered  the  timidity  of  early  European  administrators  in 
India.  The  Madras  Council  was  most  reluctant  to  undertake 
the  difficult  and  technical  task  of  direct  administration. 
Instead  of  this,  it  advised  that  the  revenues  should  be  farmed 
out  to  the  highest  bidder,  just  as  the  French  were  doing,  and 

1  Infra,  p.  217.     Public  Consultations,  February  4,  1754. 


Xiv  INTRODUCTION 

just  as  the  Country  governments  had  long  before  begun  to 
do.  The  Company  acquiesced,  with  the  recommendation  that 
the  leases  should  run  for  one  year  only  instead  of  five.  No 
one  will  pretend  for  a  moment  that  this  method,  however 
sanctioned  by  the  example  of  others  and  by  what  was  fast 
becoming,  if  it  had  not  already  become,  the  custom  of  the 
country,  was  anything  but  a  bad,  wasteful  and  unjust  method 
of  collecting  the  revenues,  sometimes  involving  extortion  of 
the  worst  nature.  A  contemporary  would,  I  think,  have 
admitted  this  as  readily  as  we  do  ;  but,  he  would  have 
added,  you  will  not  get  rid  of  extortion  even  if  you  substitute 
a  European  collector  for  an  Indian  renter  ;  the  collector  will 
have  to  be  provided  with  subordinates,  who  will  rob  and 
plunder  quite  as  much  as  the  renter,  and  who  will  actually 
collect  less  revenue  under  the  collusive  agreements  which 
they  will  certainly  make  with  the  ryots.  Indeed  there 
would  have  been  much  force  in  such  a  contention, 
strengthened  as  it  was  by  the  prevailing  ignorance  of  the 
Company's  servants  of  the  languages  and  customs  of  the 
people.  Such  was  the  reason  why  this  system  of  renting  was 
adopted  ;  and  its  adoption  certainly  does  not  manifest  that 
anxiety  to  exploit  the  country  for  private  benefit  with  which 
the  Company's  servants  are  commonly  credited.  A  dishonest 
collector  could  have  made  a  large  fortune  in  a  short  time. 
Here  we  see  such  an  opportunity  deliberately  refused  by  the 
President  and  Council  for  their  friends  and  fellows  in  the 
service. 

One  other  point,  under  this  head  of  Administration, 
deserves  mention.  A  despatch  of  1754,  here  calendared, 
gives  an  account  of  an  aspect  of  the  life  of  the  Company's 
servants  in  the  East  seldom  dwelt  upon — the  cost  of  living1. 
The  Madras  Council  in  1754  rates  this  at  1,098  Pagodas  a 
year,  or  ^439,  for  a  decent  living.  But  it  is  clear  that  a 
good  deal  depends  upon  the  rank  of  person  for  whom  the 

1   Infra,  p.   245. 


INTRODUCTION  XV 

scale  is  calculated.  A  decent  living  for  a  newly  joined 
writer  is  not  the  same  thing  as  for  a  servant  of  some  fifteen 
years'  standing.  The  estimate  includes  items  which  suggest 
to  me  that  the  latter  is  the  type  of  person  the  Council  was 
thinking  of.  For  instance  the  90  Pagodas  allotted  for 
liquors  would  buy  a  pipe  of  Madeira  and  still  leave  a  consi- 
derable balance  for  the  purchase  of  other  wines  or  spirits, 
for  at  this  time  a  pipe  of  Madeira  could  be  bought  at  Madras 
for  about  60  Pagodas.  Again,  such  a  figure  as  480  Pagodas 
for  house-expenses  indicates  a  very  liberal  table,  with 
generous  hospitality  and  a  considerable  consumption  of 
Europe  stores,  then  very  expensive.  On  the  whole,  I  should 
suppose  that  the  scale  of  expense  is  about  equivalent  to  that 
of  a  bachelor  establishment  costing  somewhere  about  900 
Rupees  a  month,  which  would  be  an  establishment,  not 
ostentatiously  luxurious,  but  one  in  which  nothing  was  cut 
short  on  the  ground  of  economy.  The  increase  in  cost 
may  be  roughly  estimated  at  200  per  cent.  That  however 
affords  no  measure  of  the  general  movement  of  prices  in 
Madras,  which  rose  much  more  than  200  per  cent  between 
1754  and  19 1 4.  For  instance  you  here  have  the  eight  or 
nine  inevitable  servants  costing  no  more  than  5^  Pagodas, 
not  quite  20  Rupees,  a  month  ;  in  1914  they  would  have  cost 
about  100  Rupees,  an  increase  of  400  per  cent,  which 
may  be  taken  as  an  approximate  measure  of  the  price  of 
piece-goods  and  food-grains  taken  together.  As  the  former 
certainly  fell,  the  latter  must  have  increased  in  price  at  a  still 
higher  rate.  In  1754,  if  you  consumed  country  produce  and 
drank  country  liquor,  you  could  probably  live  in  plenty  on 
about  half  the  Council's  estimate — I  should  say,  on  30  to  40 
Pagodas  a  month — 100  to  135  Rupees. 

IV. 

It  remains  for  me  to  offer  a  few  comments  on  the  principal 
topic  in  most  of  these  despatches — the  subject  of  trade  on 
the  Coast.     The  general  nature  and  extent  of  the  Company's 


xvi  INTRODUCTION 

trade  I  have  already  described  in  a  preceding  volume1. 
Up  to  the  loss  of  Madras,  the  Investment  continued  very 
much  on  its  former  scale.  In  the  season  1744-45,  4,600 
bales  were  sent  home  ;  and  in  1745-46  they  rose  to  the 
exceptional  height  of  6,6o22.  But  the  capture  of  Madras 
and  the  subsequent  troubles  reacted  most  unfavourably  on 
the  Company's  trade.  In  1746-47  only  3,300  bales  seem 
to  have  been  provided  ;  in  1747-48  very  few  seem  to  have 
been  sent  ;  in  1748-49  and  1749-50,  2,100  and  3,900  were 
provided  on  the  Coast;  and  in  1751-52  the  Investment 
was  still  under  4,600  bales.3  On  an  average,  the  Investment 
for  the  eight  seasons  following  the  loss  of  Madras  were 
probably  a  third  less  than  the  average  of  the  six  seasons 
preceding  that  misfortune.  Even  the  Northern  settlements, 
which  had  provided  in  former  days  1,000  or  1,200  bales 
a  season,  were  so  distressed  by  the  perpetual  disturbances 
and  decay  of  regular  government  that  they  could  not  procure 
even  a  third  of  their  usual  quantity4. 

This  decline  rendered  the  Directors  more  critical  of  the 
method  of  providing  the  Investment  than  they  had  been 
till  then.  That  method  was  one  which  had  been  in  use 
ever  since  the  foundation  of  Madras  a  century  before. 
Certain  merchants  were  selected  for  their  wealth  and  pro- 
bity ;  they  received  the  title  of  the  Company's  merchants  ; 
and  were  permitted  to  have  peons  who  bore  the  Company's 
badge.  At  the  beginning  of  each  season  they  were  called 
before  the  Council,  and  contracted  individually  for  the 
provision  of  specified  sorts  and  quantities ;  they  then 
received  advances  proportionate  to  their  shares  in  the 
Investment,  and  these  advances  were  passed  on  by  gumas- 
taks  to  the  weavers  in  the  villages.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
cloth,  it  was  sorted,  and  credit  given  accordingly  to  the 
merchant  responsible.     Early  in   1 754  the  Company  seems 

1    Calendar  of  the  Madras  Records,  1740-44,  Introduction,  pp.  xvii,  etc, 

-   Infia,  pp.  7  and  28. 

3  Infra,  pp.  36,  65,  91  and  148.  4  Infra,  p.  201. 


\ 

INTRODUCTION  xvii 

to  have  contemplated  a  modification  of  this  system.  It 
was  so  private,  they  wrote,  as  to  admit  of  unfair  practices  ; 
in  future  a  month's  notice  was  to  be  given  and  written 
tenders  received1.  The  change,  according  to  all  theory, 
should  have  been  highly  beneficial  ;  but  unfortunately  it 
ignored  the  simple  organisation  of  trade  in  India  at  this 
time.  The  Council  acted  as  it  was  told  ;  but  instead  of  the 
cloud  of  tenders  which  should  have  come  in,  only  four  were 
received — one  from  a  group  of  merchants  who  had  long  been 
employed  on  the  Company's  account,  another  from  a  mer- 
chant at  St.  David's,  and  the  other  two  from  men  of  straw. 
The  Company's  proposed  reform  thus  made  no  difference  in 
the  world.  It  is  conceivable  that  the  Council  had  employed 
underhand  means  to  bring  this  about  ;  but  the  probabilities 
lie  in  the  other  direction.  Under  the  Company's  new  system, 
'  witty,  self-ended  men '  could  have  found  their  private 
advantage  as  easily  as  in  employing  the  regular  merchants. 
On  the  whole,  it  seems  likely  that  the  Council  was  speakino- 
the  truth  when  it  assured  the  Directors  that  men  valued  the 
position  of  a  Company's  merchant  rather  from  the  honourable 
rank  which  it  conferred  than  from  the  profits  which  it  gave.2 
Very  similar  to  the  foregoing  was  the  struggle  between 
the  Directors  and  the  Councillors  as  to  the  manner  in  which 
the  imports  of  woolen  cloth  should  be  sold.  This  continued 
throughout  the  period  covered  by  the  present  volume.  The 
Company's  imports  consisted  of  copper,  lead,  iron  and  cloth. 
The  metals  were  always  sold  at  public  outcry ;  but  the 
woolen  cloth  was  usually  delivered  to  the  Company's  mer- 
chants at  the  fixed  rate  of  30  per  cent  over  the  invoiced  price. 
At  Calcutta  and  Bombay,  however,  woolen  cloth,  like  other 
goods,  was  sold  by  auction  ;  and  the  Company  was  anxious 
to  establish  the  same  at  Madras  as  well,  in  the  hope  that  it 
would  thus  secure  higher  prices.  The  merchants,  it 
believed,  desired  a  high  rate  of  profits  rather  than  a  large 
sale.      The   Councillors    did   not   admit   this ;     and   the  old 


1   Infra,  p.   223.  »  /„/ra>  pp#  24,  aQ(J  ^ 

c 


xviii  INTRODUCTION 

method  continued  to  be  followed  down  to  1746,  on  the  ground 
that  the  Company  had  permitted  this  until  the  merchants  had 
cleared  off  the  arrears  which  they  had  accumulated.1 

When  the  St.  David's  Council  replaced  that  of  Madras, 
the  same  system  was  followed,  to  the  Company's  great  anger, 
for  it  had  not  the  excuse  which  the  Madras  Council  had  been 
able  to  set  up,  and  besides  the  sale  took  an  aggravated  form 
by  being  limited  to  a  single  merchant,  Linga  Chetti.  At  last 
after  repeated  commands  from  the  Company,  the  new  system 
was  begun  in  1752  ;  but  it  did  not  work.  For  one  thing,  the 
Company  in  the  confidence  of  its  a  priori  reasoning,  sent 
out  more  woolen  cloth  than  the  Council  had  asked  for,  and 
the  market  seems  to  have  been  overstocked.  In  1752  the 
price  fell.  In  1753  broad-cloth  was  lying  rotting  in  the 
Company's  godowns  for  want  of  buyers.  The  same  was  re- 
ported in  1754.  Early  in  1755  Madras  had  no  less  than  1,500 
bales  on  hand,  and  was  imploring  the  Company  to  send  no 
more  for  a  year. 

Here  again  the  true  state  of  the  case  is  not  obvious.  But 
the  Company  was  evidently  mistaken  in  supposing  that 
Madras  could  be  as  favourable  a  market  for  woolen  cloths  as 
those  cities  in  communication  with  Northern  India.  There 
the  '  cold  weather '  is  a  reality  ;  but  in  the  country  lying  behind 
Madras,  the  term  only  means  the  season  of  least  heat.  The 
consequence  was  that  the  heavy  cloths  of  Europe  were  little 
used  in  the  South  except  for  those  saddle-cloths  with  which 
Moghal  troopers  even  there  covered  their  unfortunate  horses. 
Probably,  in  the  case  of  the  sale  of  broad-cloth  as  in  the  case 
of  the  purchase  of  calicoes,  the  Council  on  the  spot  knew 
more  than  the  Company  issuing  its  orders  on  hearsay  evidence 
and  theoretical  deductions. 

In  these  respects  at  all  events  there  had  been  small 
change  since  the  1 7th  century  ;  and  the  reader  will  see,  too, 
that  the  Company  clung  to  its  monopoly  of  the  trade  to 
England  as  strenuously  as  ever.     In  the  present  volume  we 

1  Infra,  pp.  2,  6,   14  and  24. 


INTRODUCTION  xix 

find  the  Directors  warning  their  servants  in  the  East  against 
the  possible  appearance  of  Colonel  James  Mill  (of  the 
Austrian  service)  in  Indian  waters1.  This  project  seems  to 
have  been  connected  with  the  expulsion  of  the  Ostenders 
from  their  factory  at  Bankibazaar  on  the  Hugli  some  years 
earlier.  Their  directeur,  Schonamille  by  name,  is  mentioned 
as  attempting  afterwards  to  establish  himself  in  Pegu  with 
300  men — '  the  scum  of  all  nations '.  In  this  attempt  he  had 
lost  his  life  ;  after  which  event  a  party  of  his  men  had  pirati- 
cally seized  a  French  vessel,  the  Charles,  only  in  their  turn 
to  be  made  prize  by  a  vessel  of  Barnett's  squadron2.  Later 
on  in  1 75 1  Colonel  Mill  (or  Milles)  came  to  London,  in  order 
to  come  to  an  understanding  with  the  Company  regarding  his 
intended  expedition  to  re-occupy  the  factory  at  Bankibazaar. 
He  interested  Bubb  Doddington  and  the  Duke  of  Newcastle 
in  his  plans,  which  seem  to  have  gone  so  far  as  the  conquest 
of  Bengal  itself ;  but  the  scheme  broke  upon  the  invincible 
hostility  of  the  Company3. 

But  while  that  body  was  as  jealous  as  ever  of  its  trade 
and  privileges,  it  betrays  in  these  despatches  one  or  two 
curious  admonitions  of  the  modern  tendency  of  commerce — 
prophecies  which  sound  all  the  more  oddly  by  reason  of  the 
old-fashioned  instructions  with  which  they  are  surrounded 
The  prime  condition  of  over-seas  trade  had  always  been  that 
it  should  limit  itself  to  articles  comprising  great  value  in  small 
bulk.  That  condition  had  been  relaxed  by  the  discovery  o 
the  sea-route  to  the  East  Indies;  but  it  seems  that  in  the 
middle  of  the  18th  century  matters  were  going  still  further  in 
the  modern  direction.  Thus  we  find  the  Company  so  early 
as  1744  remarking  that  the  inferior  sorts  of  cloth  were  as 
profitable  as  the  more  expensive,  and  desiring  that  a  new  and 
inferior  quality  should  be  introduced  into  its  sortments.  This 
apparently  was  because  the  sale-prices    in  England  did  not 

1  Infra,  p.  128.     The  name  is  also  spelt  '  Milles  '. 

2  Infra,  pp.  10,  19  and  29. 

3  Bubb  Doddington's  Diary,  pp.  no — 114.     A  volume   in  the  Colonial  Office  papers— 
77-7%,  Nos.  66 — 68— contains  many  documents  relative  to  Mill's  plans. 


XX  INTRODUCTION 

discriminate  between  the  different  qualities  as  much  as  was 
done  by  the  invoice-prices  in  India*.  Again  we  hear  that 
there  is  brisk  demand  for  calicoes — preferably  the  cheaper 
qualities2.  Nor  is  this  tendency  (for  as  yet  it  is  no  more  than 
that)  confined  to  calicoes.  The  China  teas  bought  are 
evidently  the  cheaper  sorts  too.  The  taste  we  are  told, 
matters  little  so  long  as  the  tea  is  sweet.  The  consumption 
of  cheap  teas  is  reckoned  at  no  less  than  a  million  pounds  a 
year3. 

Of  the  covenanted  servants'  private  trade  we  hear  little, 
but  the  two  references  in  the  present  volume  are  decidedly 
curious.  Thus  we  read  that  the  factors  at  Gombroon  have 
been  ordered  to  allow  goods  to  be  sold  outside  the  factory4. 
This  was  the  outcome  of  a  long  series  of  complaints  made  by 
the  servants  at  Calcutta  and  Madras.  The  factors  in  Persia 
had  under  some  pretext  or  other  always  insisted  that  English 
goods  should  be  sold  only  in  the  factory,  where  the  prices 
ruled  very  considerably  under  those  in  the  outside  market ; 
and  it  was  alleged  that  the  factors  themselves  were  always 
the  real  buyers  at  these  low  rates.  The  orders  here  men- 
tioned must  have  signified  the  abandonment  of  such  unfair 
practices. 

The  other  reference5  is  a  rather  naive  proposal  that 
covenanted  servants  of  junior  rank  should  be  allowed  to  go 
to  sea,  i.e.,  to  sail  as  supercargoes  of  country  shipping,  on 
condition  of  their  drawing  no  pay  during  their  absence.  In 
support  of  this  the  Council  alleged  the  specious  reason  that 
the  junior  servants  would  thus  learn  much  about  the  trade  01 
the  country.  But  it  was  too  evident  that  the  plan  would  also 
supply  members  of  Council  with  reliable  supercargoes  ;  while 
the  Company  feared  this  would  only  deplete  its  stock  o 
writers  on  the  Coast  and  lead  to  the  employment  of  '  monthly 
writers'  and  Indian  clerks,  who  were  bound  by  no  covenants 
and  alike  mistrusted. 

*  Infra,  pp.  2  and  31.  2  Infra,  p.  13.  3  Infra,  p.  42, 

*  Infra,  p.  2.  5  Infra,  pp.  182  and  224, 


INTRODUCTION  xx» 

Among  the  regularly  recurrent  features  of  these  despatches 
will  be  found  statements  of  the  value  of  the  diamonds  sent 
home  by  each  ship.  These  amounted  to  over  200,000 
Pagodas  a  season,  say  over  half  the  value  oi"  the  Company's 
average  investment  in  the  period  after  the  capture  of  Madras. 
These  remittances  in  diamonds  were  supposed  to  represent 
the  returns  made  for  the  private  silver  and  coral  which  were 
licensed  by  the  Company  for  export  to  India,  under  condition 
of  being  consigned  to  the  Governor  of  Madras  jointly  with 
the  consignor's  agent.  It  seems  very  possible  however  that 
these  diamond  remittances  furnished  a  not  unimportant 
means  by  which  the  covenanted  servants  and  others  sent 
money  home  to  England.  The  amounts  remitted  in  bills  on 
the  Company  were,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  details  furnished 
in  the  despatches,  of  trivial  amount  at  this  time  ;  and  the 
only  other  practicable  method  was  that  of  remitting  through 
the  foreign  companies — a  means  which  had  not  yet,  I  think, 
become  popular. 


THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES,   1743-1744: 


Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Nicholas  Morse,   etc. 
East   India   House.    March  21,    1744.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  48,  pp.  19-33  (original  15  pp.)] 

Cite  despatch  of  January  II.  Have  altered  the  charterparties  so 
as  to  permit  the  despatch  of  ships  from  Bengal  on  or  after  Nov- 
ember 10,  so  that  they  may  get  home  earlier  and  demurrage  may 
be  saved.  In  the  present  war  time  Commanders  must  be  protested 
against  if  they  sail  without  their  full  complement  of  men  ;  but  there 
is  no  obligation  to  furnish  them  with  men  out  of  the  garrison. 
Lascars  should  be  supplied  if  possible.  In  1741  it  was  arranged 
that  Commanders  shipping  lascars  in  Bengal  should  contract  to  pay 
them  the  stipulated  wages  till  the  ship  was  unladed  and  55.  a  week 
thereafter  till  they  could  be  sent  back  to  India  ;  the  same  should  be 
done  at  Madras.  As  goods  laded  in  addition  to  the  charterparty 
tonnage  pay  only  half-freight,  as  much  should  be  sent  that  way  as 
possible.  The  Company's  country  ships  to  be  employed  fetching 
bales,  etc.  Approve  of  sending  the  Tygris'  woollen  goods  to  Persia. 
Efforts  to  be  made  to  detect  goods  laded  clandestinely  on  the  out- 
ward-bound ships.  Commanders  of  ships,  who  seduce  soldiers, 
etc.,  into  desertion,  will  be  dismissed;  and  must  be  required  to 
certify  that  they  have  no  deserters  aboard.  Complain  of  careless 
endorsement  of  the  bills  of  lading.  Have  taken  up  2  more 
vessels.  In  case  Bohea  and  green  tea  cannot  be  procured  at  the 
limited  price  by  February  10,  the  Stafford  is  to  be  laded  at  Canton 
with  tutenague,  sugar  and  gold  (if  procurable  at  1 10  taels  or  under) 
for  Madras ;  the  Canton  supercargoes  are  to  receive  5%  on  the 
produce  of  the  cargo.  If  ships  are  despatched  after  February  20, 
Commanders  will  be  given  100  guineas  (in  case  of  a  French  war 
200  guineas)  if  they  get  round  the  Cape  the  same  season,  and  the 
owners  will  only  be  charged  the  invoice-price  of  goods  damaged. 
In  the  case  of  ships  despatched  so  late,  fine  goods  should  be  secured 
with  double  wax-cloth  and  double  cotton. 

Send  most  of  the  Bengal  silver  directly  to  Madras  so  that  the 
due  proportion  of  it  may  be  coined.  Now  that  there  is  a  likelihood 
of  all  the  broadcloth  at  Madras  being  sold,  it  should  in  future  be 


2  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

put  up  at  outcry  as  is  done  elsewhere  ;  this  will  increase  the  sales, 
for  the  merchants  prefer  large  profits  to  a  large  vend.  Send  as 
many  cannon  as  possible  to  replace  the  old  honey-combed  guns 
on  the  walls.  Will  inquire  into  the  deficiency  of  copper  on  the 
Admiral  Vernon. 

Send  list  of  the  investment.  Hope  the  country  will  soon  recover 
from  the  effects  of  the  Maratha  invasion.  The  inferior  qualities  of 
cloth  (if  properly  sorted)  are  as  profitable  as  the  higher  ones.  Good 
demand  for  calicoes.  May  introduce  a  still  lower  number,  No.  5, 
provided  the  other  numbers  are  kept  to  their  former  standard. 
Hope  that  the  merchants'  balances  have  been  quite  cleared.  '  Old 
running  open  accounts '  are  always  unsatisfactory.  Need  of  upright, 
capable  men  at  the  subordinate  settlements  illustrated  by  Burton's 
misconduct  at  Fort  St.  David.  The  French  lack  of  money  coupled 
with  the  large  English  supplies  should  prove  very  favourable  to 
the  investment.  Precautions  to  be  taken  against  fire  ;  the  Com- 
pany allows  no  smoking,  etc.,  in  its  warehouses  at  home.  Suggest 
that  placing  a  few  soldiers  in  each  boat  would  prevent  the  pilfering 
of  the  bales.  Bengal  baftas  painted  at  Madras  turn  out  much  more 
profitable  than  painted  moorees.  Some  of  the  latter  should  be 
painted  at  Sadras.  Are  gratified  at  the  investment  (750  bales)  from 
the  Northern  factories.  Sannoes  from  Bengal  are  only  to  be 
bleached,  not  painted. 

Trust  that  the  young  Nawab  will  be  confirmed,  so  that  his  grants 
may  stand  and  some  recompense  be  received  for  the  cost  of  main- 
taining his  family  in  Madras.  If  the  grants  prove  beneficial,  Krish- 
naji  who  was  instrumental  in  obtaining  them  should  be  rewarded. 
Are  highly  gratified  that  Madras  (as  the  Nawab's  place  of 
residence)  should  have  become  the  capital  of  the  province,  as  this 
will  increase  trade  ;  its  reputation  is  doubtless  increased  by  the 
genera]  currency  of  the  English  pagodas.  All  this  is  due  to 
Benyon's  prudent  conduct  which  should  be  imitated.  After  con- 
sideration thought  it  best  not  to  apply  for  powers  to  condemn 
prizes  taken  by  the  Company's  ships  under  letters  of  marque  ; 
approve  conduct  regarding  the  captured  Manilla  ship.  The  late 
town-shroff  should  be  expelled  from  Madras.  Will  give  orders  to 
the  factors  at  Gombroon  to  allow  goods  to  be  sold  outside  the 
English  factory  in  order  to  avoid  the  continual  complaints  of  the 
Company's  servants,  etc.,  trading  thither.  Trust  that  this  will 
induce  ships  to  cease  going  to  Bushire. 

The  fortifications  as  proposed  by  Knipe  may  be  carried  out  if 
there  is  real  need  of  them.     Send  some  recruits,  but  it  is  difficult 


CALENDAR  FOR  1 743-1744  3 

to  get  good  men  in  war-time ;  time-expired  men  should  be 
encouraged  to  re-enlist.  Sanction  the  building  of  a  house  at 
Ingeram.  When  any  of  the  farms  expire,  public  notice  must  be 
given  that  they  will  be  sold  at  outcry  on  a  fixed  day.  The  reduc- 
tion of  expenditure  and  increase  of  the  revenues  last  year  are 
proofs  of  the  Council's  good  services. 

Approve  conduct  regarding  Burton.  Croke  is  to  be  given  500 
Pags.  and  an  annuity  of  £50  a  year  in  reward  for  his  long 
service  and  discovery  of  Burton's  misdeeds.  The  account  of  quick 
stock  must  include  the  merchants'  balances  which  were  omitted 
from  the  Fort  St.  David  statement.  Have  resolved  to  send  out 
an  annual  supply  of  medicines,  and  not  to  supply  the  surgeons 
with  any  for  their  private  practice.  What  are  issued  to  the 
country  ships  or  to  the  surgeons  must  be  paid  for  at  20%  advance 
on  the  invoice.  Besides  his  pay  Knipe  is  to  receive  25  Pags.  a 
year  for  servants.  William  Percival  (late  gunner)  is  appointed  a 
factor.  Arthur  Rider's  appointment  as  factor  to  date  from  the 
receipt  of  this  despatch.  Have  appointed  writers — James  Mansell, 
William  Orme,  Thomas  Gage,  Hugh  Norris,  Alexander  Baird, 
James  Hugonin,  James  Morford  and  John  Trenwith.  Bills  may  be 
granted  for  £500  which  Captain  Francis  Steward  has  lying  at 
Madras.  The  ages  of  the  covenanted  servants  are  to  be  inserted 
in  the  lists  sent  home.  Ships'  arrivals.  Propose  the  appointment 
of  an  Accountant-General  (as  has  been  done  by  Act  of  Parliament 
for  the  Court  of  Chancery)  to  take  charge  of  the  moneys  deposited 
in  the  Mayor's  Court. 


Despatch  from  the  Secret  Committee  to  Nicholas  Morse, 
etc.     East  India  House.    March  23,   1744.    Received 

.  January  18,  1745,  from  Bengal.  [Public  Despatches  from 
England,  Vol.  48,  p.  37  {original  I  p.)] 

Enclose  copy  of  a  letter  from  the  Duke  of  Newcastle  with  a 
number  of  newspapers  to  be  dispersed  abroad.  Immediate  notice 
to  be  given  to  the  several  parts  of  India. 

Appended  is  a  copy  of  letter  from  the  Duke  of  Newcastle  to 
Harry  Gough,  Whitehall,  March  22,  1744  [ibid.,  p.  45] :  The  English 
Minister  at  Paris  reports  that  the  King  of  France  is  about  to  declare 
war;  and  the  master  of  an  English  packet-boat  reports  that  war 
was  declared  at  Calais  yesterday.  Desires  this  news  to  be 
communicated  to  the  East  India  Company.  Newcastle  will  be 
very  glad  if  he  can  be  of  service. 


4  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Despatch  from  the  Secret  Committee  to  Nicholas  Morse, 
etc.  East  India  House.  April  18,  1744.  Received 
January  i,  1745,  forwarded  by  Captain  Peyton.    [Public 

Despatches  from  England,  Vol.  48,  pp.  39-40  {original  2  pp.)] 

In  consequence  of  the  War  with  France,  His  Majesty  has 
appointed  several  ships-of-war  to  proceed  to  the  East  Indies.  They 
will  need  stores  and  provisions,  to  purchase  which  they  are  to  be 
supplied  with  money  in  exchange  for  bills  on  the  Admiralty  at  the 
rate  of  6s.  6d.  per  weighty  dollar,  payable  at  30  days'  sight.  All 
assistance  is  to  be  given  them,  and  the  officers  are  to  be  treated 
with  all  due  civility  and  respect. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Nicholas  Morse,  etc. 
East  India  House.   June  29,  1744.    [Letter  Book,  Vol.  26,  pp. 

184-185  {India  Office  transcript)} 

Cite  despatch  of  April  10.  Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  despatch, 
dated  September  26, 1 743  [Wanting.  Probably  the  despatch  referred 
to  in  Consultation,  September  22,  1743  (Calendar  of  the  Madras 
Records,  1740-44,  p.  393)].  This  goes  by  the  Northampton  bound  for 
Bombay  and  China.  Should  she  be  forced  to  put  into  Madras 
she  is  to  be  despatched  for  China  with  such  of  her  English  lading 
as  the  supercargoes  judge  suitable  for  Canton  and  with  silver  to 
make  a  total  cargo  of  Rs.  2,60,000. 


* 


THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES,   1711-1715 


Despatch  from  Nicholas  Morse,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  George.    January  8,  1745.    [public  Despatches  to 

England,  Vol.  14,  pp.  49-51  {copy  3  pp.)} 

This  despatch  will  go  by  a  Danish  ship.  Received  the  Com- 
pany's letter  of  April  10,  1744,  with  news  of  the  declaration  of  War 
with  France,  by  the  Swift  on  September  5.  The  King  William 
reached  Bombay  September  10.  On  January  I  received  letter  from 
the  Secret  Committee  of  Directors,  dated  April  18,  1744,  forwarded 
by  Peyton  from  Achin,  where  he  arrived  November  23  and  took  the 
French  ship  the  Favoretta.  Peyton  with  the  Medway  and  Dolphin 
parted  company  with  Barnett  in  October  some  days  after  leaving 
Madagascar.  China  shipping  news  brought  by  a  Maeaoman 
which  arrived  yesterday.  4  Spanish  ships  reported  to  be  cruiz- 
ing in  the  Straits  of  Malacca  to  intercept  English  shipping. 
Bengal  affairs.  The  Governor-General  of  Batavia  received  news  of 
the  War  with  France  from  Sumatra  where  the  Godolphin  arrived 
August  23. 

Despatch  from  Nicholas  Morse,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  George.    February  15,  1745.    [Public  Despatches  to 

England,  Vol.  14,  pp.  53-137  (copy  85  pp.)  (Paper  brittle  and  edges 
broken.)] 

Cite  despatches  of  September  5,  1744,  and  January  8,  1745.  Ac- 
knowledge the  receipt  of  letters  from  the  Secret  Committee  of  March 
23,  1744  (received  by  the  Beaufort  from  Bengal  January  18,  1745) 
and  of  April  18,  1744  (forwarded  to  Morse  by  Captain  Peyton  and 
received  January  I,  1745).  Shipping  news.  The  Durrington  and 
the  Beaufort  arrived  from  Bengal  in  January  ;  and,  as  none  of  His 
Majesty's  ships  had  appeared,  were  sent  to  Fort  St.  David  with  the 
Benjamin  to  take  in  bales,  with  a  party  of  soldiers  on  each  ship  for 
their  protection.  They  returned  February  4,  with  1,039  bales  of 
piece-goods.  Will  not  allow  any  but  time-expired  soldiers  to  go 
aboard  the  Europe  ships.  In  order  to  encourage  re-enlistment 
have  shortened  the  term  from  five  to  three  years,  but  have  not 
reduced  the  gratuity.    Will  oblige  Commanders  entertaining  lascars 


6  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

to  enter  into  a  contract  for  their  wages,  etc.  The  large  number  of 
ships,  and  the  shortage  of  the  Bengal  investment  will  probably 
prevent  the  sending  of  any  surplus  tonnage.  The  Company's 
country  ships  must  be  chiefly  employed  during  the  War  in  carrying 
supplies  to  Sumatra,  especially  as  the  English  there  are  on  ill-terms 
with  Batavsa.  Bengal  are  sending  3  ships  to  fill  with  pepper 
at  Tellicherry. 

Hitherto  when  garnets  have  been  sent  to  Europe  as  returns  for 
coral,  etc.,  it  has  been  usual  to  register  them  and  issue  a  permit  to 
the  Commander  to  receive  them  ;  but  for  the  last  two  years  Com- 
manders have  been  demanding  a  formal  order  to  receive  them.  It 
is  hinted  that  such  orders  would  entitle  the  ship-owners  to  demand 
freight,  etc. ;  so  the  Company's  directions  are  desired. 

Complain  of  bad  rice  sent  from  Bengal  for  Sumatra.  Having 
coined  50  chests  of  silver  into  rupees  to  be  sent  to  Bengal  by  the 
Godolphin  and  Wager  in  place  of  the  silver  expected  by  those  ships, 
will  be  forced  to  dispose  of  the  rupees  at  Madras  as  the  ships  have 
not  put  in. 

Would  have  enforced  the  Company's  orders  to  sell  broadcloth  at 
outcry  but  for  the  permission  to  continue  selling  en  bloc  to  the 
merchants  till  they  have  cleared  off  their  balances.  The  accounts 
sent  last  year  show  that  Tambi  Chetti,  Mahalinga  Krishna,  and 
Ponnappa  Chetti  still  owed  nearly  30,000  Pags.  most  of  which 
can  only  be  recovered  by  continuing  to  them  the  privilege  of  the 
broadcloth.  There  were  two  other  reasons  aswell:(i)  to  induce 
Telisinga  Chetti,  etc.,  to  take  part  in  the  investment,  and  (2)  to 
prevent  the  merchants  from  demanding  a  higher  rate  of  brokerage. 
Have  again  sold  this  year's  broadcloth  to  the  merchants  for  the 
same  reasons.  Two-thirds  of  the  profits  on  the  broadcloth  will  be 
paid  directly  into  the  Company's  cash  ;  and  the  maintenance  of  the 
brokerage  at  the  old  rate  must  be  set  against '  the  small  gratification 
of  the  other  third.'  Do  not  believe  the  merchants  prefer  high 
profits  to  a  large  sale,  as  the  Company  supposes.  Some  years 
ago,  when  the  indent  was  for  1,000  bales,  Tambi  Chetti  made  a 
trial  and  lost  money  by  it. 

Are  grateful  for  the  guns  sent-  Indent  for  more  guns  and  small- 
arms,  which  are  needed  as  the  out-factories  have  made  consider- 
able demands.  The  Madeira  wine  is  better  than  last  year's,  but 
far  inferior  to  that  formerly  sent.  100  pipes  would  suffice  in 
ordinary  years,  but  as  the  Squadron  will  be  here,  1 50  should  have 
been  sold.  The  copper  sent  by  the  York  sold  well,  but  was 
thought   ill  of   'in   the   inland    countries.'     As   however   it    might 


CALENDAR  FOR  1744-1745  7 

serve  the  Ganjam  market,  the  remainder  (100  candies)  was  put  up 
for  sale  and  fetched  the  former  price.  Copper  sells  badly  in 
Bengal.  Bengal  being  overstocked  with  lead,  have  landed  that 
on  the  Benjamin.  700  candies  were  sold  on  February  6  at  13  Pags. 
13  fns.  27  c.  per  candy. 

Some  merchants  lately  applied  to  Morse  for  2  lakhs  of  Rupees 
on  behalf  of  the  Nawab  ;  it  was  agreed  to  supply  them  at  the 
current  rate  for  ready  money,  in  order  to  oblige'  the  Nawab  who 
has  behaved  handsomely  to  the  English  ;  but  the  affair  has  been 
broken  off,  as  the  Agent  afterwards  proposed  to  pay  by  order  on 
the  Collectors  of  the  Province,  a  proposal  he  knew  the  English 
could  not  accept. 

This  year's  investment  is  of  good  quality  and  as  cheap  as  can 
be  expected;  and  it  includes  a  considerable  quantity  of  salampores 
from  Madras  and  Fort  St.  David.  Have  attempted  to  revive  the 
manufacture  of  fine  longcloth  and  salampores  formerly  made 
near  Madras  such  as  were  always  preferred  to  similar  makes  from 
other  parts.  Hope  to  provide  more  of  these  in  the  coming  year. 
Maratha  troubles  early  in  the  year  prevented  more  than  a  few 
bales  of  Salem  cloth  being  got ;  and  Maratha  designs  on  Trichi- 
nopoly  may  prevent  any  investment  at  Salem  in  the  coming  year. 
The  French  will  not  be  able  to  do  much,  but  Dutch  contracts  may 
hinder  us.  On  reports  from  Vizagapatam  and  Ingeram  that  the 
French  had  stopped  the  English  investment  by  raising  their  prices, 
it  was  thought  better  to  raise  the  price  of  ordinary  cloth  rather  than 
humour  the  merchants  by  taking  in  a  larger  proportion  of  fine 
cloth  which  the  Company  does  not  want.  However  nothing  much 
can  be  expected  so  long  as  Nizam-ul-mulk  sells  the  Government  to 
the  highest  bidders  who  must  plunder  in  order  to  pay  their  rents. 
This  year  business  was  stopped  at  Ingeram  by  the  Nawab  of 
Rajahmundry's  attempting  to  make  us  buy  timber.  He  imprisoned 
the  Ingeram  and  Madapollam  vakils  till  he  had  extorted  a  sum  of 
money  and  so  terrified  the  merchants  that  they  fled.  However  he 
at  last  desisted  and  restored  the  money  on  repeated  letters  from 
Morse.  Had  given  orders  to  take  the  timbers  in  case  the  Nawab 
would  not  give  way,  as  that  would  have  cost  less  than  a  prolonged 
stop  of  the  investment. 

The  Coast  investment  consists  of: — Madras  1, 800  bales;  Fort  St. 
David  2,000  ;  Vizagapatam  280  ;  Ingeram  370  ;  and  Madapollam  1 50 
— 4,600  bales  in  all — a  considerable  quantity  in  view  of  the  recent 
change  of  Government,  Maratha  troubles,  and  distracted  state  of 
the  province.     The  Madras  merchants  have  paid  off  9,928  Pags.  of 


8  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

their  debt.  Regarding  "Chintadripet,  the  Manager,  etc.,  repre- 
sented that  they  could  not  provide  goods  without  an  advance, 
owing  to  the  large  balance  due  to  them  from  the  weavers  and  the 
death  of  the  wealthy  Adiyappa  Narayanan.  They  promise  to 
reduce  their  debt,  and  the  weavers  there  have  been  permitted  to 
work  for  the  merchants  of  the  Town,  who  can  look  after  them  more 
closely  than  the  Council  can.  Have  not  pressed  for  the  immediate 
discharge  of  the  original  loan  of  3,000  Pags.  made  to  found  the 
village,  as  the  buildings,  etc.,  are  ample  security. 

At  Masulipatam  the  Faujdar  detained  on  various  pretexts  15 
bales  of  coloured  goods  ;  but  the  Armenian  Coja  Mirza  now  reports 
that  he  has  induced  the  Faujdar  to  release  them.  Owing  to  the 
fewness  of  the  washers  in  the  Washing  Town  at  Madras,  their 
pay  has  been  slightly  raised  in  the  hopes  of  attracting  more 
washers  thither.  The  Northward  factories  have  been  desired  to 
get  their  cloth  '  cured  '  locally  in  order  to  relieve  the  pressure. 

As  cloth  from  the  Northward  may  have  to  be  brought  down  in 
country  boats,  have  ordered  it  to  be  stamped  only  with  '  Gentue 
characters  '  owing  to  the  War.  800  bales  have  been  brought  down 
safely  since  advice  of  the  French  War  was  received. 

Have  placed  '  tappey  peons  '  from  Madras  to  Ganjam  ;  and 
understand  Fort  William  have  done  the  like  from  Ganjam  to 
Balasore.  As  there  are  frequent  disputes  between  the  Moors  and 
Hindus  thereabouts,  it  was  decided  to  keep  a  Resident  at  Ganjam, 
to  prevent  letters  from  being  delayed.  John  Andrews  was 
accordingly  sent  with  instructions  also  to  inquire  into  the  weaving 
industry  in  those  parts.  He  reports  that  there  are  5,000  weavers  at 
Berhampur  and  as  many  more  in  the  neighbouring  towns,  and  that 
he  has  obtained  from  the  Nawab,  etc.,  farmans  and  dastaks  needed 
to  carry  on  the  Company's  trade.  Have  directed  him  to  procure 
ordinary  longcloth  and  salampores,  and  provided  him  with 
10,000  Rs.     He  will  receive  further  sums  if  he  can  invest  them. 

Some  Shiyali  cloth  (like  that  of  Chennappanayakanpalaiyam 
but  better)  has  been  sent  from  Fort  St.  David.  It  is  invoiced  as 
'Chennappanayakanpalaiyam'  to  avoid  a  multiplicity  of  names. 
There  is  need  of  great  caution  in  accepting  cloth  worse  than  the 
Company's  musters,  as  it  is  difficult  to  keep  the  weavers  up  to  a 
good  standard.  As  the  investment  can  best  be  enlarged  at  Fort 
St.  David,  the  Madras  merchants  for  some  time  past  have  been 
forbidden  to  provide  cloth  to  the  southward. 

To  prevent  thefts  from  boats  carrying  bales  to  the  Europe 
ships,  have  made  a  practice  of  sending  some  of  'our  gun-room 


CALENDAR  FOR  1744-1745  9 

crew  '  on  every  boat.  The  baftas  from  the  Bay  will  be  painted 
and  the  sannoes  bleached  according  to  orders.  Some  Sadras 
chintz  now  sent  is  better  worked  than  any  yet  seen. 

The  old  Fort  St.  David  merchants  were  allowed  a  year  in  which 
to  clear  off  their  balances  in  two  equal  instalments.  After  six 
months,  they  represented  that  they  could  pay  nothing  as  they  had 
not  been  able  to  settle  their  accounts.  Having  been  summoned  to 
Madras  and  settled  their  accounts  amongst  themselves,  they  now 
say  that  in  the  7  years  they  served  they  provided  investments 
totalling  700,000  Pags.  and  that,  in  spite  of  their  heavy  losses, 
they  only  owed  8,823  Pags.  to  the  Company  at  the  end  of  1743, 
which  they  pray  to  be  forgiven.  Council  agreed  to  recommend 
them  to  the  Company's  favour,  but  has  demanded  security  for 
their  abiding  by  the  Company's  orders. 

Have  already  reported  the  appointment  of  Anwar-ud-din  Khan 
as  Nawab.  Have  succeeded  in  preserving  all  the  Company's 
grants  with  no  more  expense  than  the  usual  present  to  a  new 
Nawab.  As  Morse  became  President  at  nearly  the  same  time, 
this  present  served  also  as  a  present  on  his  accession.  Will 
endeavour  to  conduct  country  affairs  as  successfully  as  Benyon, 
to  whom  is  due  the  preference  felt  by  the  Moors  for  the  English 
above  all  other  European  nations-  In  December  Anwar-ud-din 
marched  to  join  the  Nawabs  of  Cuddapah  and  Kurnool  against 
the  Marathas ;  Nizam-ul-mulk  has  also  sent  10,000  horse  ;  but  the 
Marathas  are  said  to  have  the  larger  forces.  Though  the  armies 
are  near  each  other,  no  action  has  taken  place.  The  Nawab  offers 
a  sum  of  money,  but  the  Marathas  demand  Trichinopoly.  If  the 
latter  should  win  a  victory,  the  country  will  suffer  severely  both 
from  them  and  from  the  poligars  who  always  seize  such  occasions 
to  plunder ;  so  it  is  hoped  the  affair  will  be  accommodated. 
Krishnaji  Pantulu  (who  has  been  so  friendly  of  late)  died  a  few 
clays  ago.  He  had  been  entrusted  with  the  Nawab's  negotiations 
with  the  Marathas,  but  the  fatigue  of  the  journey  was  too  great 
for  his  age.  If  opportunity  arises,  will  show  our  gratitude  to  his 
family.  Safdar  Ali  Khan's  mother,  etc.,  are  still  in  Madras,  but 
Council  have  reduced  by  half  the  expenditure  on  their  account. 

Regarding  the  Jagannath  Prasad,  it  appears  that  she  was  owned 
by  Gopinath,  a  Company's  merchant  at  Balasore,  with  respondentia 
on  her  belonging  to  Davis  and  Cotesworth  (Company's  servants). 
When  she  was  wrecked  near  Vizagapatam,  Thomas  Pitt  (Resident 
atUppada)  reported  that  she  was  English-owned  to  Stratton  (Chief 
of  Vizagapatam)  who  thereon  got  the  Nawab's  farmans  for  her 
salvage.     Pitt  however  offered   the   local  Raja  one-third    of    the 


10  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

salvage  for  his  assistance  ;  on  which  the  Nawab  imprisoned  Pitt 
till  he  paid  out  of  the  Company's  money  1,700  Madras  Pags. 
though  the  whole  salvage  was  much  less.  Pitt  has  since  died  and 
the  Nawab  has  been  succeeded  by  another.  The  Council  cannot 
decide  how  far  the  fact  that  the  ship  carried  English  respondentia 
entitles  them  to  redress. 

On  January  16  Mme.  Schonamille,  wife  of  the  Chief  of  the 
Ostend  Company,  arrived  and  asked  to  be  allowed  to  reside  here. 
Leave  was  refused  as  Schonamille  is  at  open  war  with  the  Moors 
and  has  taken  several  Masulipatam  ships.  He  also  writes  that  he 
intends  going  to  Pegu  with  300  Europeans  and  settling  that  place 
'  in  such  a  manner  that  no  Europeans  should  be  admitted  without 
the  approbation  of  the  English.'  Believe  he  hopes  thereby  to 
secure  the  admission  of  his  shipping  to  Madras,  but  consider  that 
that  would  be  unwise.  Cannot  judge  the  justice  of  Schonamille's 
cause,  but  his  people  are  a  mixture  of  the  worst  of  all  nations, 
likely  to  take  to  evil  courses. 

Desire  the  Company's  orders  in  case  a  ship's  Captain  should 
refuse  to  give  up  a  prize  on  the  Council's  demand.  Hope,  now  that 
the  restrictions  on  the  Persia  trade  are  removed,  that  the 
English  will  be  able  to  compete  with  the  French,  etc.;  but  the 
Persia  factors  are  sure  to  make  complaints,  however  undeserved. 

Enclose  copy  of  a  letter  from  Dupleix  to  the  Faujdar  of  St. 
Thome  with  the  latter's  answer  sent  to  Morse  by  the  Faujdar. 
Dupleix  has  also  written  to  the  Moorish  officers  at  Covelong  and 
Arcot,  in  order  to  throw  on  the  English  the  odium  of  having 
opened  the  War  in  Indian  seas,  and  persuade  them  that  this  will 
endanger  the  Moghal's  trade.  He  has  lately  sent  the  Neptune  with 
500  bales  to  Mocha  with  the  Nawab's  pass  and  colours,  having 
made  '  a  pretended  sale  '  of  her  to  a  Muhammadan,  hoping  to 
involve  us  in  difficulties  should  she  be  taken. 

As  Knipe  is  dead,  will  take  Smith's  advice  about  the  projected 
fortifications  on  the  west  side  of  the  Town.  Believe  Knipe  did  not 
sufficiently  test  the  nature  of  the  ground  ;  and  it  is  possible  that  the 
place  may  be  made  equally  secure  at  less  cost.  Will  send  plans 
in  September.  Desire  '  a  large  recruit '  as  there  are  few  Europeans ; 
and  topasses  cannot  be  relied  on  either  behind  walls  or  in  the 
open.  On  Smith's  advice  are  building  a  new  magazine,  at  a 
cost  of  4,100  Pags.  and  hope  to  finish  it  this  year.  Have  also 
enlarged  the  powder-factory  on  the  Island  so  as  to  have  four  stamps 
at  work  instead  of  two.  As  Vizagapatam  desire  a  battery  built  by 
the  sea-side,  have  sent  a  man  to  make  a  plan  of  the  defences 
there,  so  that  Smith  can  advise  what  should  be  done. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1744  1745  TI 

The  sea  customs  have  declined  owing  to  the  lessened  import 
of  grain  caused  by  the  troubles  to  the  northward  and  the  scarcity  in 
Bengal.  2,000  garse  less  was  imported  in  1743  44  than  in  1742-43. 
Luckily  the  last  two  harvests  in  the  neighbouring  country  have 
been  good.  The  stoppage  of  the  Manilla  trade  by  the  War,  has 
reduced  the  land  customs,  and  the  shipping  in  the  port  is  likely  to 
fall  away  during  the  War.  The  Town-mint  customs  have  increased, 
but  the  customs  of  the  Chintadripet  mint  have  declined.  Great 
difficulties  have  been  caused  in  the  mint  by  the  loss  of  the  aqua 
fortis  on  board  the  Winchester.  A  small  quantity  was  obtained 
from  Negapatam.  The  shroffs  with  the  Nawab's  permission  coined 
in  various  mints  5,000  Pags.  of  the  same  touch  as  ours,  but  they 
have  not  obtained  currency  ;  none  but  the  English  pagodas  are  in 
esteem  at  present.  Have  not  yet  received  the  revenues  of  the 
4  new  villages  for  1743,  but  expect  to  receive  the  1744  revenues 
as  soon  as  the  corn  is  gathered.  The  grant  was  for  5  villages, 
but  the  Killedar  of  Poonamallee  refused  to  surrender  Pudupauk 
unless  another  village  was  given  him  instead,  which  has  not  been 
done. 

Many  military  in  hospital.  The  servants  allowed  the  officers 
have  been  taken  off,  and  an  allowance  made  to  Lieutenants  of  5 
Pags.  a  month,  while  the  Ensigns'  pay  has  been  increased  to 
13  Pags.  Have  paid  Smith  140  Rs.  a  month  according  to  the 
Company's  orders  to  Bombay.  He  acts  as  Gunner,  and  is  very 
sober  and  diligent. 

Banks  sent  to  Madapollam  vice  Andrews  sent  to  Ganjam. 
Croke  returns  thanks  for  the  gratuity  allowed  him.  Have  not  yet 
been  able  to  draw  out  a  statement  of  the  merchants'  balances. 
Forward  John  Andrews'  covenant  as  writer  and  those  of  George 
Jones  and  Samuel  Barlow  as  free  merchants  ;  will  send  later  those 
of  Andrew  Munro  (who  is  on  a  voyage)  and  William  Percival. 
Stratton,  having  left  Vizagapatam  owing  to  ill-health,  is  unwilling 
to  return  both  for  reasons  of  health  and  as  the  Board  appointed 
another  Chief.  Samuel  Harrison  has  received  leave  to  go  to  England 
for  his  health  which  suffered  from  his  journey  to  Trichinopoly 
on  the  Company's  service.  Recommend  him  to  the  Company 
should  he  desire  to  return  to  India.  Edward  Fowke  appointed 
Storekeeper  and  of  Council ;  Richard  Starke  Upper-searcher  at 
the  Sea-Gate ;  Joseph  Fowke  Under-searcher ;  Charles  Savage 
Norris  Sub-Accountant.  Samuel  Harrison,  and  his  two  children, 
Lieutenant  Southby,  and  a  son  of  Mr.  Savage  go  home  on  the 
Durrington ;  Mrs.  Hannah  Greenhaugh,  Mr.  Stratton's  son,  and 
Captain  Timothy  Tullie,  his  wife  and  2  children,  on   the   Beaufort. 


12  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

2,88o  Pags.  have  been  received  on  account  of  Joseph  Goddard's 
debt  to  the  Company  ;  it  is  now  reduced  to  500  Pags.  and  will 
be  almost  if  not  wholly  paid  off  when  the  rest  of  his  debts  are 
collected. 

Sumatra  affairs. 

The  Mayor's  Court  have  proposed  a  by-law  limiting  the  institu- 
tion of  suits  on  bonds  to  a  period  of  ten  years  from  the  time  when 
the  cause  of  action  shall  have  arisen.  Suits  are  often  brought  on 
old  bonds  which  have  been  paid  but  by  negligence  not  cancelled. 
Recommend  confirmation  of  the  proposal. 

Besides  the  4  ships  whose  arrival  at  Pondichery  was  reported 
in  the  last  despatch,  the  Charmant  has  also  arrived  with  silver  and 
stores.  Loss  of  the  St.  Geran  off  Mascareign  with  $  55,000 ; 
only  8  persons  saved  out  of  200  aboard.  In  October  the  Bourbon 
sailed  for  Europe  with  530  bales  of  cloth,  coffee  and  redwood. 
The  Charmant  sailed  to  take  in  pepper  at  Mahe,  having  250  bales 
of  cloth  aboard  and  some  redwood. 

In  November  Dupleix  wrote  about  a  projected  treaty  of  neu- 
trality between  Mahe  and  Tellicherry.  As  the  matter  had  been 
referred  to  Bombay  and  would  certainly  be  negatived  there,  it  was 
thought  prudent  to  affect  a  readiness  to  concur  if  the  project  was 
approved  at  Bombay,  to  secure  English  shipping  bound  for  Telli- 
cherry. But  when  another  letter  was  received  offering  extensive 
proposals  by  order  of  the  French  Company,  Council  replied  that 
they  lacked  powers  to  enter  into  such  treaty.  After  the  Favori 
was  taken  in  Achin  road,  Dupleix  protested  against  the  English 
action,  but  hitherto  the  French  have  committed  no  hostilities. 
Their  brigantine,  the  St.  Joseph,  has  been  '  cut  off  '  at  Benjar.  The 
Dutch  lay  the  blame  on  the  English,  but  it  is  hoped  that  it  was 
due  solely  to  Malay  treachery. 

Since  the  Dutch  were  driven  out  of  Porto  Novo  by  the  Marathas, 
their  Chief  has  resided  at  Cuddalore  ;  when  Nizam-ul-mulk  was 
beseiging  Trichinopoly  they  tried  to  get  his  leave  to  build  a  fort 
at  Porto  Novo;  and  they  have  now  offered  the  Nawab  a  present  if 
he  will  allow  them  to  do  so.  Hope  they  will  fail  as  such  a  settle- 
ment might  injure  Fort  St.  David. 

As  the  Secret  Committee  on  the  news  of  the  French  War  ordered 
Morse  to  send  a  small  vessel  on  a  private  expedition,  he  had  to 
purchase  the  Eltham — the  only  ship  available.  In  order  to  be  able 
to  provision  the  Squadron,  have  laid  in  a  stock  of  '  live  provisions  ' 
and  sent  to  Bengal  and  Bombay  for  wheat.  Cattle  have  been 
collected  at  Fort  St.  David  also.  Special  accommodation  has  been 
arranged  for  sick  sailors,  as  the  Hospital  even  now  is  too  small. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1744-1745  13 

Supplement :  Have  laded  500  bags  of  saltpetre  as  surplus 
freight  on  the  Durrington  to  '  stiffen  '  her.  Increase  their  indent  for 
broadcloth  from  450  to  600  bales.  Have  laded  1,643  bales  of  cloth 
on  these  ships.  Their  Madras  goods  are  invoiced  at  269,210  Pags. 
The  Commanders'  adventures  amount  to  8,187  Rs.  from  Bengal  and 
3,403  Pags.  from  Madras.  Diamonds  registered  amount  to  171,798 
Pags.  The  balance  in  cash  is  37,373  Star  and  1,504  Madras  Pags. 
Recent  shipping  news. 

Postscript :  Bills,  etc.,  drawn  on  the  Company  for  60,058  Pags. 

DESPATCH    FROM    THE    COMPANY    TO    NICHOLAS  MORSE,     ETC. 

East  India  House.    December  21,  1744.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,   Vol.  49,  pp.   I95~I99  (copy  4%  pp.)) 

Cite  despatch  of  June  29,  1744.  Acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
despatches,  dated  September  19,  1743,  January  16,  February  10  and 
March  1,  1744  [The  last  wanting]  The  papers  and  private  letters 
sent  by  the  Duke  were  torn  to  pieces  owing  to  the  box  not  being  full. 
The  packets  must  be  filled  up  with  cotton  and  covered  with  wax- 
cloth both  inside  and  outside  the  boxes.  Have  built  the  Dolphin 
(destined  for  Madras  and  Bengal)  and  taken  up  12  other  ships  of 
which  5  are  destined  for  Madras  and  Bengal  and  I  for  Madras  and 
China.  All  the  silver  on  the  Madras  and  Bengal  ships  is  consigned 
to  Madras,  and  what  can  be  spared  must  be  forwarded  as  soon  as 
possible  to  Bengal.  The  Madras  and  China  ship  is  to  be  laded  with 
merchandise  and  Mexico  dollars  to  the  total  value  of  £31,000, 
exclusive  of  what  is  consigned  by  her  to  China  from  England  ;  and 
in  case  there  is  more  tonnage  than  can  be  filled  from  Madras  and 
Bengal,  a  ship  may  be  laded  with  '  gruff  '  goods  and  silver  to  the 
total  value  of  £18,000  and  sent  to  Canton  likewise.  There  is  at 
present  a  brisk  demand. for  calicoes  in  Europe  ;  so  a  large  quantity 
of  longcloth  and  salampores  should  be  secured,  preferably  of  the 
cheaper  qualities.  Foreign  silver,  etc.,  licensed  for  the  purchase 
of  diamonds.  Moses  Salomons,  Ephraim  Isaac,  Thomas  Raitt,  James 
Twiss,  Jacob  Moses  Helbutt,  and  James  Gay  permitted  to  reside  in 
India  as  free  merchants.  Purchase  of  coffee  at  Mocha.  150  pipes 
of  Madeira  will  be  sent  to  Madras  by  the  Lincoln.  Prize  goods 
taken  by  His  Majesty's  ships  fit  for  the  Europe  market  may  be 
bought  at  anything  less  than  10%  under  cost  price,  and  what 
cannot  be  paid  for  in  cash  may  be  bought  with  bills  at  6  months' 
or  longer  sight.  All  assistance  to  be  given  to  His  Majesty's 
Captains  in  disposing  of  prizes.  Silver  may  be  bought  of  them 
@  55.  6d.  per  ounce  with  bills  of  exchange.  Bills  may  also  be 
granted  for  any  money  paid  in  on  account  of  Richard  Benyon. 


l4  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Nicholas  Morse,   etc. 
East   India  House.    January   4,   1745.    [Letter  Book,  Vol. 

26,  pp.  228-229  ( India  Office  transcript)] 
If  a  full  lading  of  tea  cannot  be  procured  for  one  of  the  China 
ships  at  9  or  10  tael  a  pecul,  she  will  be  filled  up  with  tutenague, 
sugar,  etc.,  and  sent  to  Madras.  In  that  case  her  Madras  cargo  is 
to  be  sold  at  outcry,  and  bales  and  saltpetre  put  aboard  her 
instead.  Certificates  to  be  granted  to  ships'  Captains  for  money 
paid  in  either  in  payment  of  respondentia  loans  or  as  the  produce 
of  their  outward  adventure.  Have  taken  up  an  extra  ship — the 
Princess  Mary. 

DESPATCH    FROM    THE    COMPANY    TO    NICHOLAS  MORSE,    ETC. 

East  India  House.    January  25,    1745.    [Letter  Book,  Vol. 

26,  pp.  245-246  (India  Office  transcript)} 
Now  write  by  the  Dolphin  and  Kent.     Have   entertained   Philip 
Bulkley  and  George  Jones  as  factors,  and  Edmund  Maskelyne  as 
writer.     As  Jones  is  at  Madras,  send  covenants  for  him  to  execute  ; 
he  must  find  friends  to  give  security  for  him  in  f  1,000. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Nicholas  Morse,  etc. 
East  India  House.    February  7,  1745.    [Letter  Book,  Vol. 

26,  pp.  278-283  (India   0<fice  transcript)] 

Approve  of  advancing  money  to  the  Salisbury  though  she  was 
not  consigned  to  Madras.  As  several  ships  lately  have  put  into 
Vizagapatam  instead  of  Madras,  inquiry  to  be  made  into  their 
private  trade  there,  and  the  usual  duties  to  be  collected  there  on 
all  goods  landed  or  shipped.  Short  deliveries  from  the  Europe 
ships  will  be  settled  with  the  owners.  The  heavy  war  demurrage 
necessitates  ships  being  despatched  to  Europe  as  quickly  as 
possible.  As  it  is  likely  there  will  be  more  tonnage  than  can  be 
laded  home,  the  cargoes  should  not  exceed  £70,000  or  £80,000  each. 

The  tonnage  taken  up  will  admit  of  sending  out  only  two-thirds 
of  the  woollen  goods  indented  for.  None  but  the  Company's  silver 
to  be  coined  into  Arcot  rupees,  lest  it  should  offend  the  Country 
Government.  As  the  merchants  have  been  so  long  indulged  with 
the  broadcloth,  their  balances  should  be  cleared  off  by  now  ;  what 
may  be  still  outstanding  should  be  recovered  without  delay.  In 
order  to  be  better  able  to  follow  the  markets,  desire  in  future  the 
broadcloth  to  be  sold  at  public  outcry.  Coarse  cloths  this  year 
are  dearer  by  10.*.  to  1 5.?.  each,  but  the  qualities  sent  are  better,  as 
the  common  sorts  cannot  be  got.     Long  ells  are  dearer  by  2s.  each. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1744-1745  15 

The  small  number  of  bales  received  this  season  was  a  great 
disappointment.  If  the  2%  %  brokerage  now  allowed  is  not 
inducement  enough,  it  should  either  be  increased  or  contracts  made 
with  substantial  merchants  at  fair  prices.  In  order  to  omit  nothing 
that  may  encourage  the  investment,  the  merchants  may  still  receive 
the  broadcloth  as  before  (despite  what  is  said  above)  if  the  Council 
consider  that  will  excite  them  to  promote  the  Company's  interests. 
A  statement  of  each  merchant's  account  should  be  obtained  yearly 
from  the  subordinate  factories,  so  that  those  who  fall  in  arrears 
may  be  discovered  and  checked.  When  the  factory-books  are 
annually  balanced,  each  merchant  is  to  give  a  written  acknowledg- 
ment that  the  balance  of  his  account  up  to  that  day  amounts  to 
such  and  such  a  sum  due  to  or  from  the  Company. 

Trust  that  the  large  presents  made  to  Nizam-ul-mulk,  etc.,  will 
produce  commensurate  benefits  ;  on  no  account  is  money  to  be  lent 
to  the  Country  powers.  Approve  the  promise  of  150  Pags-  for 
the  release  of  English  prisoners  in  Ceylon  and  hope  it  was  success- 
ful- Observe  that  the  Town-wall  is  nearly  finished,  so  that  by  now 
all  the  works  should  be  complete  and  the  place  in  a  good  posture 
of  defence.  Consent  to  the  completion  of  the  Fort  St.  David 
defences  at  a  cost  of  1,400  Pags.  The  residence  of  the  late 
Nawab's  family  at  Madras  has  been  costly  ;  such  guests  should  be 
avoided  in  future.  Are  gratified  at  the  reduction  of  expenses  by 
6,600  Pags.  and  the  increase  of  revenues  by  6,900  Pags-  Means 
should  be  taken  to  prevent  the  servants  of  Muhammadan  nobles 
from  running  betel  and  tobacco  to  the  injury  of  the  revenues. 

Unless  the  Northern  Chiefs  (Saunders,  Prince  and  Hallyburton) 
are  perfectly  capable,  one  of  Council  should  be  sent  Chief  to 
Vizagapatam  (as  was  usual)  to  conduct  the  investment  in  those 
parts.  Send  blank  covenants  to  be  executed  by  the  servants  who 
have  come  of  age.  As  Hollard  was  entrusted  with  mathematical 
instruments  belonging  to  the  Company,  the  pay  due  to  him  should 
not  be  delivered  to  de  Gingins  till  the  instruments  are  accounted 
for.  Consent  to  allowing  the  Mayor's  Court  50  Pags.  a  month 
in  lieu  of  the  revenues  appropriated  to  it ;  but  desire  the  Council's 
views  on  the  arrangement  that  was  made  some  years  ago  with  the 
Mayor's  Court  at  Calcutta.  '  The  Church  must  never  be  independent 
of  the  State,  nor  the  French  suffered  to  intermeddle  in  our  affairs  ' ; 
so  approve  the  proceedings  about  Father  Severini.  Statements  of 
quick  stock  should  include  balances  due  from  the  merchants  at 
subordinate  factories  and  unexpended  stores.  Stratton  was 
indebted  to  the  Company  when  he  left  Vizagapatam  ;  this  must  be 
recovered.     Nothing  has  been  said  lately  about  Goddard's  debt 


16  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

though  the  Madapollam  books  show  5,883  Pags-  as  still  owing. 
Acquiesce  in  the  allowances  granted  to  Randall  Fowke  on  his 
resignation.  Mrs.  Gyfford's  allowance  of  15  Pags.  a  month  may 
be  continued  to  her  if  she  is  an  object  of  charity.  Have  entertained 
George  Drake  as  a  writer.  Father  Severini  may  pay  into  the 
Company's  cash  any  sum  up  to  6,000  Pags.  on  account  of  money 
left  to  found  a  Hospital  for  Female  Orphans  at  Madras  ;  and  he  is 
to  be  paid  6%. 

DESPATCH    FROM    THE    COMPANY    TO  NICHOLAS    MORSE,    ETC. 

East  India  House.    February  20,  1745.    [Letter  Book,  Vol. 

26,  p.  310  (India  Office  transcript)) 
On  the  Dolphin's  arrival,  she  is  to  be  unladed  at  once,  and  sent 
with  15  chests  of  treasure  to  Canton,  in  addition  to  the  2  ships 
already  ordered  to  be  sent  on  thither.  She  is  to  be  returned  to 
Europe  with  a  cargo  of  cheap  tea— two-thirds  green  and  one-third 
Bohea — '  with  a  flooring  of  chinaware.' 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to   Nicholas  Morse,  etc. 

EAST  INDIA  HOUSE.     MARCH  20, 1745.     [Public  Despatches  from 
England,  Vol.    49,  pp.   1 87- 1 89  (original  3  pp.)     There  is  also  a 
copy  at  pp.  7 — 9  of  the  volume.] 
Cite  despatch  of  February  7.     This  goes  by  the  Princess  Mary, 
with  35  chests  of  treasure  and  merchandise.     As  much  of  the  silver 
as  can  be  spared  must  be  forwarded  to  Bengal-     No  broad  long 
ells  sent,  as  indents  arrived  too  late.     Had   not  tonnage  for  two- 
thirds  of  the  woollen  goods  indented  for.     All   torn   or  damaged 
cloth  must  be  sold  for  what  it  will  fetch   instead  of  being  sent  to 
England.     Have   allowed   the    Society    for   Promoting    Christian 
Knowledge  to  send  out  Klein  and  Breithaupt  to  carry  on   '  that 
good    work.'     Require  more  detailed  returns  of  the  ammunition, 
etc.,  in  store,  and  the   returns  must  be  arranged  under  the  same 
heads  as  the  indents.     As  there  is  usually  a  deficiency  in  the  weight 
of  lead,  iron,  copper  and  ivory  sent  out  from  England,  give   details 
of   mode   of     weighment.      When    broadcloth    is    mildewed,    the 
mildew  may  be  got  rid  of  by  opening  it  and  letting  the  sun   warm 
it  through.     The  muster-rolls  of  ships'  companies  on  despatch  for 
England   must   certify   that   there    are  no   undischarged  soldiers 
aboard.     Hyde  Parker,  an  Ensign  at  Fort  St.  David,  to  be  promoted 
to  the  first  lieutenancy   vacant  if  his  conduct  is  satisfactory.     In 
future   no  advances  are  to  be  made  to  the  merchants  except  in 
Council  and  be  entered  on  the  Consultations.     If  John  Stratton  has 
discharged  his  debt,  he  may  be  restored  to  his  standing  at  Madras. 


THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES,  1745- 1746. 


Despatch  from  Nicholas  Morse,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  George.    July  3,  1745.    Received  overland, 

MARCH  25,  1746.  [Coast  and  Bay  Abstracts,  Vol.  5,  p.  40 
(India  Office  transcript)] 

'  None  of  the  Europe  ships  are  yet  arrived.  Nabob  a  few  days 
since  returned  to  Arcot  having  obliged  the  Morattaes  to  repass  the 
Kistna  whereby  shall  be  able  to  make  a  considerable  investment. 
.  .  .  [Bengal  affairs].  Commodore  Barnett  was  cruizing  26th 
June  off  Fryers  Hood.  Lively  man-of-war  join'd  him  at  Batavia  8th 
April.' 

Despatch  from  Nicholas  Morse,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  George.    September  14,  1745.    Received  per 

DOLPHIN,  JUNE  16,  1746.  [Coast  and  Bay  Abstracts,  Vol.  5, 
p.  40  (India  Office  transcript)] 

The  Dolphin  arrived  August  17,  too  late  for  her  intended  voyage. 
Shipping  news.     '  All  the  Company's  affairs  are  in  good  order.' 

Despatch  from  Nicholas  Morse,  etc,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  George.    September  24,  1745.    Received  June 

16,  1746.  [For  paragraphs  I  to  43  of  the  despatch  :  Coast  and  Bay 
Abstracts,  Letters  Received,  Vol.  5,  pp.  40—46  (India  Office  tran- 
script). For  the  remaining  portion  of  the  despatch  :  Public  Despatches 
to  England,  Vol.  15,  pp.  I— 18  (copy  18  pp.)  Damaged.] 

Cite  despatches  of  February  15,  July  3,  and  September  14.  This 
goes  by  the  Benjamin.  Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  Company's 
several  despatches  and  the  Secret  Committee's  letter  of  May  14 
[  Wanting], 

Shipping  news.  Stores  and  provisions  for  the  Squadron  have 
arrived  from  Bengal.  The  Mermaid  built  at  Bombay  arrived  on 
May  13  and  proceeded  to  Vizagapatam.  The  EJtham  was  sold  with 
little  loss  for  1,500  Pags.  695  bales  brought  up  from  Fort  St.  David. 
The  Dolphin- which  arrived  too  late  for  China,  has  been  returned 
to  Europe.  Presume  that  the  London  should  proceed  to  China 
3 


18  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

with   the  supercargoes.     3  French   ships  for  China  passed   the 
Sunda  Straits  on  August  7. 

Sold  120  candies  of  copper  at  Pags.  83-IO-40.     Sent  5  candies 
to    Ganjam  where  100  can  be  disposed    of   yearly.    Were  able 
to  remit  to  Bengal   44,036   Madras   and  64,000   Arcot    Rs.  ;    but 
as    no     further    supplies     arrived,    had    to    take    up    money    at 
interest.     Some  of  the  Dolphin's  silver  sold  at  14M  dollars  per  10 
Pags.     Both  Madras  and  Bengal  are  much  distressed  for  money. 
Provided  4,600  bales  last  year  ;  now  have  3,000  more.    Wood  being 
scarce,    timbers    forced    on    Ingeram    were     sold    without  loss. 
Received  from  Bengal,  the  guns  and  part  of  the  broadcloth  by  the 
Wager.     Owing  to  great  demand  for  mohurs,  it  is  difficult  to  sell 
silver.     As   few   rupees   are  at  present  being  sent  to  Bengal,  gold 
is  scarce.    Though  little  silver  has  been  imported  yet  the  price  is 
low.     All  woollen   goods  will  be  cleared   in  two   months.     Have 
no  lead  or  iron  and  are  in  great  need  of   stores,  having  not    so 
much  as  a  barrel  of  pitch  or  tar. 

Agreed  with  Tirumangalam   for  fine  goods  at  an  abatement ; 
but  the  Marathas,  harassing  the  country  whence  thread  is  brought, 
seized  and  set  fire  to  1,000  ox-load  of  cotton  and  thread.     So  it  was 
impracticable  to  lower  the  ordinary  goods.     They  are  plundering 
the  country  to  Arcot  and  Lalapet.     However  1,200  bales  have  been 
brought  in.     At  Fort  St.  David,  Andiyappa  contracted  to  bring  in 
2,000  salampores  ;  and  Narayana  Chetti  800.   They  have  brought  in 
1,400  at  last  year's  price.     At  Vizagapatam,  the  Dutch  gave  great 
prices  for  a  bad  manufacture  intended  for  some  market  in  India 
being  too  bad  for  Europe.    Vizagapatam  have  provided  200  bales. 
Expect  from  Ingeram  400  bales  and  from  Madapollam  200,  but  the 
Government   [is]  very   bad   in  those  parts.     Ganjam  provided  70 
bales.     Send  coloured  goods  from  Masulipatam.      Complained  of 
the  Faujdar  to  the  Nizam.     Have  paid  the  bill  from  Anjengo  for 
5,000  Rs.     The  Marathas   after  plundering  the   open  towns    and 
villages  returned  in  April.     Received  letters  from  the  Nawab  that 
the  Moghal's  pass  was  granted  to  natives  and  strangers,  and  for- 
bidding their  ships  to  be  molested.     Replied  if  the  French  made 
use  of  such  passes  and  colours  they  would  nevertheless  be  made 
prizes.     Haji   Hadi  was  sent  to    explain  several   matters  to  the 
Nawab.    On  Commodore  Barnett's  Squadron  appearing,  the  Nawab 
expressly  forbad  hostilities  on  land.    To  this,  promised  a  due  regard 
with  reserve  to  men-of-war  for  whose  conduct  the  Council  could  not 
be  accountable.      He   then  wrote    that   no  hostilities    should    be 
committed  by  the  ships  of  war  in  the  roads   of  Pondichery   and 


CALENDAR  FOR  1745-174°  19 

Karikal,  and  a  neutrality  observed  in  the  Mughal's  ports.  Could 
not  submit  to  this.  On  marriage  of  his  daughter  he  sent  the 
President  a  horse  and  saropa,  and  the  like  to  the  Governor  of 
Pondichery.  The  latter  returned  a  present  of  3,000  Pags.  for  late 
services;  but  the  former  judged  one  of  less  value  sufficient,  viz., 
50  gold  mohurs  and  a  service  of  plate  worth  about  350  Pags- 
The  Nawab  visited  St.  Thome  and  Pondichery.  Thence  he  went 
on  to  Fort  St.  David  and  Udaiyarpalaiyam.  His  tour  seeming  in 
some  measure  calculated  to  raise  contributions  of  European 
nations,  we  were  obliged  to  make  him  presents.  Stopped  Captain 
Norton  proceeding  in  a  sloop  to  Pegu  with  stores  and  liquors  for 
Ostenders.  Schonamille  is  reported  to  be  cut  off  near  Pegu. 
Captain  Robert  Norton  of  the  Ramsunkar  was  designed  for  [Pegu] 
with  liquor  and  stores  which  must  have  been  intended  for  Schona- 
mille's  party.  Norton  entered  into  a  bond  not  to  go  thither  lest  the 
Moors  should  make  this  a  pretext  for  troubling  us.  Later  on  news 
came  that  Schonamille  and  100  of  his  men  had  been  cut  off  near 
Pegu,  that  50  more  had  been  taken  by  the  Arakanese,  and  that  the 
rest  had  gone  to  Malacca  or  Batavia. 

Have  decided  on  a  plan  for  fortifying  the  west  side  of  the  Town 
and  actually  begun  on  the  work  ;  will  send  an  estimate  of  the  cost 
in  January.  The  Town  will  be  somewhat  enlarged  and  well 
secured.  Two  new  bastions  will  be  built  instead  of  the  Mint  and 
Charles  Points,  which  are  so  cracked  as  to  be  useless.  At  Fort  St. 
David,  the  Devanampattanam  and  Bandipalaiyam  godowns  will 
be  rebuilt  as  they  are  too  small  and  infested  with  white  ants.  The 
S.  W.  bastion  of  Fort  St.  David,  which  was  sometime  since 
washed  down  in  a  flood,  is  to  be  rebuilt.  A  plan  of  the  Vizaga- 
patam  works  has  been  obtained,  but  Smith  has  not  yet  had  time 
properly  to  consider  it.  One  small  battery  will  be  rebuilt,  and  the 
house  repaired. 

The  Betel  and  Tobacco  and  other  farms  were  put  up  to  outcry, 
but  were  bought  in,  owing  to  the  lowness  of  the  bids.  The  late 
farmers  of  Betel  and  Tobacco  lost  considerably  because  many 
Moors  now  reside  in  the  Town  and  their  servants  smuggled  large 
quantities  in.  People  are  also  alarmed  by  the  unsettled  state  of  the 
country.  Council  will  do  its  best  to  prevent  a  decline  of  the 
revenues. 

John  Graham  has  died  at  Fort  St.  David  indebted  to  the  Com- 
pany. Holt  has  been  appointed  to  succeed  him,  and  Thomas 
Cooke,  Junior,  has  been  appointed  of  Council  there.  4  Company's 
servants  for  Madras  on  the  Wager,  which  carried  them  to  Batavia, 


20  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

apply  for  allowances  in  consideration  of  their  great  expense  in 
reaching  Madras.  Trenwith  has  arrived  from  Bengal,  but  Orme  is 
still  there.  Charles  Savage  Norris  died  on  June  29;  Charles 
Hopkins  appointed  Sub- Accountant  on  10  Pags.  a  month,  as  no 
junior  servant  was  competent  for  the  post. 

More  bills  of  exchange  on  Sultan  David  have  been  forwarded 
from  Bombay  on  account  of  Company's  woolen  sales  in  Persia  ;  but 
like  the  former  one,  have  been  refused  and  protested. 

Sumatra  affairs. 

The  Mayor's  Court  has  not  yet  reported  what  it  has  done 
about  establishing  an  Accountant-General. 

In  the  beginning  of  June  the  French  were  reported  to  be 
making  great  preparations  ;  men  were  said  to  be  expected  from  the 
French  Islands  ;  Dupleix  marched  out  with  gunners,  ammunition 
and  scaling-ladders  ;  boats  were  got  ready,  and  mortars  fixed  on 
large  catamarans  for  embarkation.  The  Success  galley  and  Mer- 
maid were  therefore  sent  to  Fort  St.  David,  to  bring  up  the  bales 
there  to  Madras  if  Hinde  thought  necessary.  Before  they  reached 
Fort  St.  David,  Hinde  sent  advice  that  the  French  were  actually 
manning  their  boats  ;  but  on  the  appearance  of  the  Success  they  laid 
aside  the  expedition.  275  bales  were  sent  up  on  the  Success.  At 
Madras  the  inhabitants  were  called  together  and  arms  delivered 
to  them ;  and  200  Poligars'  peons  were  entertained  till  news 
arrived  of  Barnett's  being  off  Ceylon  with  the  Squadron.  It  was 
afterwards  learnt  that  the  French  were  going  to  relieve  Karikal 
which  was  surrounded  by  the  Tanjoreans ;  but  as  the  Mermaid 
lay  off  Fort  St.  David,  they  did  not  care  to  venture  their  men  by 
sea  ;  and  as  they  could  only  reach  the  Fort  overland  after  defeating 
the  enemy,  they  offered  terms  to  Tanjore  and  a  suspension  of  arms 
followed.  The  Success  and  Mermaid  have  since  brought  up  520 
bales  more  from  Fort  St.  David. 

By  request  of  the  Viceroy  of  Manilla,  Dupleix  has  sent  him 
munitions  of  war  by  a  Danish  ship,  which  is  believed  to  be  laded 
in  part  with  French  goods.  This  is  the  first  Danish  ship  to  sail  to 
Manilla  ;  the  Danes  say  they  have  got  leave  from  the  King  of  Spain 
to  send  a  ship  there  yearly.  Since  the  Favori  was  taken,  the 
French  have  done  their  best  to  incite  the  Country  powers  against 
us  ;  especially  since  the  Muhammad  Shah  (their  Manilla  ship)  was 
taken,  they  have  kept  agents  at  Arcot  endeavouring  to  procure  a 
demand  for  the  restoration  of  the  ship  and  cargo  ;  as  several  of 
our  friends  about  the  Nawab  had  made  loans  to  the  French,  they 
naturally  took  the  French  side;  but  when  the  Nawab  was  given 


CALENDAR  FOR  1745-1746  21 

a  full  state  of  the  case,  and  was  made  sensible  that  the  French 
presents  could  not  counterbalance  the  losses  that  would  arise 
from  a  breach  with  the  English,  he  saw  that  the  French  were  intent 
only  on  their  own  interests  and  'resolved  to  engage  no  farther 
with  them  than  would  suit  his  own  purposes.'  A  ship  has  reached 
Mahe  from  the  Islands,  and  it  is  said  at  Pondichery  that  6  ships 
are  coming  out  escorted  by  4  men-of-war.  If  true,  3  of  them  may  be 
those  gone  to  China. 

Have  contracted  with  victuallers  at  Madras  for  supplying  the 
Squadron  on  condition  they  will  take  over  the  provisions  already 
bought  by  the  Paymaster.  Provisions  from  Bengal,  etc.,  have 
already  been  forwarded  to  the  Squadron  ;  and  as  2  ships  have  been 
sent  to  Bengal  for  provisions,  and  as  others  may  go  on  to  the 
Malabar  coast  next  year,  it  is  not  likely  that  Madras  will  be  called 
on  to  furnish  much.  Barnett  sent  the  Dolphin  to  cruise  to  the  north- 
ward and  escort  vessels  with  the  Company's  bales  hither.  As 
many  of  her  crew  were  sick  at  Fort  St.  David,  and  many  had 
died  at  Batavia,  she  had  not  above  a  third  of  her  complement ;  so 
an  Ensign  and  50  men  were  sent  aboard  her.  She  met  with  none  of 
the  expected  ships,  as  those  from  Madapollam  and  Ingeram  were 
detained  '  by  the  oppression  of  the  Government.'  Barnett  would 
willingly  have  sold  his  China  prizes  to  the  English  ;  but  accepted 
the  offers  made  him  at  Batavia,  partly  because  he  was  not  sure  of 
the  Company's  intentions,  and  partly  because  of  the  risk  and  delay 
in  bringing  the  prizes  to  Madras.  The  Dutch  offers  were  very 
poor;  and  it  is  believed  that  in  future  prizes  will  be  sold  in  the 
Company's  ports. 

It  is  reported  that  -the  privateers  Fame  and  Winchelsea  have 
engaged  with  the  Governor-General  of  Batavia  to  escort  2  or  3 
Dutch  vessels  on  a  trading  voyage  into  the  South  Seas;  the  stock 
is  £150,000,  half  provided  by  the  Dutch  Company  and  half  by  the 
city  of  Batavia.  The  privateers  are  to  receive  20%  on  the  gross 
sales. 

Wish  the  Company's  orders  about  Barnett,  etc.'s  reception  had 
been  more  explicit.  The  only  houses  for  their  reception  either 
here  or  at  Fort  St.  David  are  the  Governor's  and  Deputy  Governor's  • 
and  these  have  been  granted  for  their  use,  as  was  formerly  done  to 
Commodore  Matthews. 

Supplement  :  The  French  Mocha  ship  is  said  to  have  carried 
a  cargo  of  coffee  to  the  Islands.  The  price  averaged  104  Spanish 
dollars  the  bahar.  Shipping  news.  The  Benjamin  s  cargo  is  invoiced 
at   123,024  Pags. ;    diamonds,  etc.,  registered  by   her  41,072  Pags; 


22  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

her  Commander's  homeward  adventure  2,746  Pags.  Balance  in 
cash  14,853  Pags. 

Postscript : — Bills  drawn  on  the  Company  for  £2,235. 

Appended  are; — (i)  register  of  diamonds  Fper  Benjamin;  (2) 
register  of  diamonds  per  Dolphin  (20,8lO  Pags.) ;  (3)  account 
produce  of  coral,  etc.,  for  which  remittances  are  now  made  ;  (4) 
manifest  of  private  trade  on  the  Benjamin  ;  (5)  sailing  orders  of  the 
Benjamin  ;  and  (6)  list  of  the  packet. 

Despatch  from  Nicholas  Morse,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
FORT  St.  GEORGE.  SEPTEMBER  [25],  1745.  [Public  Despatches 
to  England,  Vol  15,/.  31  {copy  I  p.)] 

Enclose  first  of  exchange  on  the  Navy  Victualling  Board  for 
£4,838  in  payment  of  10,092  Pags.  (reckoned  at  14^4  dollars  per 
10  Pags.  and  65.  6d.  per  dollar)  for  salt  provisions  sent  out  by  the 
Benjamin  and  others  supplied  at  Madras. 

Despatch  from  Nicholas  morse,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 

FORT  St.  GEORGE.     OCTOBER  6,  1745.     [Public  Despatches  to 
England,  Vol  1 5,  pp.  32-37  {copy  6  pp.)  Damagea.] 

As  the  Dolphin  could  not  be  sent  to  China,  she  is  now  returned 
with  bales.  She  has  been  given  an  additional  quantity  of  saltpetre 
as  kintledge.  20  bales  have  arrived  from  Ganjam,  285  from 
Vizagapatam  and  434  from  Ingeram.  Expect  to  have  near  4,000 
bales  by  January.  Considerable  shortage  of  money  as  ships  have 
failed  to  put  into  Madras.  Have  written  to  Bengal  regarding  the 
need  of  sending  treasure  here. 

The  Nawab  has  ordered  a  new  pagoda  of  80  touch  to  be  coined 
at  Alambarai,  and  has  desired  it  to  be  received  at  Madras. 
Council  intend  to  answer  excusing  themselves  till  assured  that  the 
standard  will  be  maintained.  Several  attempts  of  this  sort  have 
already  failed ;  the  credit  of  the  Sarkar's  mints  is  low  ;  and  this 
attempt  is  not  likely  to  affect  the  Star  Pagoda.  The  Dutch  have 
been  attempting  to  imitate  '  our  pagoda  of  three  images  called  the 
Madras',  just  as  the  French  formerly  did  ;  but  the  shroffs  detected 
them  at  once,  and  they  were  all  returned  and  melted  down. 

Are  sending  redwood  to  Bengal.  Randall  Fowke  and  Mrs, 
Catherine  [GyffordJ  died  on  October  I,  and  the  Rev.  [James]  Feild 
the  next  day. 

The  Dolphin's  cargo  is  invoiced  at  80,966  Pags.;  diamonds 
registered  by  her  since  the  despatch  of  the  Benjamin,  16,472  Pags.; 
balance  in  cash  14,571  Star  and  841  Madras  Pags. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1745-174°  23 

Appended  are: — (i)  letter  to  St.  Helena  covering  an  invoice 
of  stores  sent;  (2)  register  of  diamonds;  (3)  account  produce  of 
coral  for  which  remittances  are  now  made  ;  (4)  manifest  of  private 
trade  on  the  Dolphin  ;  (5)  sailing  orders  ;  (6)  list  of  the  packet;  and 
(7)  list  of  the  Company's  revenues  at  Madras,  totalling  64,786 
Pags. 

Despatch   from  Nicholas  Morse,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  George.    October  17,  1745-    [Public  Despatches 

to  England,  Vol  15,  /».  48    (copy  I  p.) J 

This  despatch  sent  overland  via  Aleppo  as  the  quickest  route. 
The  investments  at  Madras  and  in  Bengal  are  so  considerable  that 
an  early  supply  of  funds  is  needed. 

Despatch  from  Nicholas  Morse,  etc.,  to   the   Company. 
Fort  St.  George.    December  23,  1745.    [Public  Despatches 

to  England,  Vol,  15.  PP-  49~50  {copy  2  pp.)] 

This  despatch  sent  to  Tellicherry  to  be  forwarded  by  the  ship- 
ping from  Bombay.  On  December  II  the  Royal  George,  Scarborough* 
Kent,  Lincoln,  and  Admiral  Vernon  arrived  under  convoy  of  the 
Harwich  and  Winchester.  This  supply  of  money  is  very  welcome. 
Shall  lade  the  Kent  and  Admiral  Vernon  at  Madras  and  send  the 
others  to  Bengal. 

The  Marathas  are  said  to  have  accepted  Nizam-ul-mulk's  offer 
of  7  lakhs  of  rupees  for  this  province  ;  hope  this  proves  true,  so 
that  the  country  (and  the  investment)  may  not  be  disturbed. 

Despatch  from  Nicholas  Morse,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  George.    January  31,  1746.    [Public  Despatches  to 

England,  Vol.  1 5,  pp.  51-87  (copy  U  pp.)  Damaged.] 
Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  Company's  despatch  dated 
February  7,  1745.  Customs  shall  be  collected  at  Vizagapatam  on 
whatever  goods  may  be  landed  there  out  of  the  Europe  ships  and  the 
Company  shall  be  informed  of  the  cotton  goods  the  Commanders 
may  lade  there  for  Bengal.  Arrangements  were  made  for  the  due 
despatch  of  Europe  ships  should  they  have  made  the  Coast  at 
Vizagapatam.  Shipping  news.  The  Princess  Augusta  believed  to 
have  been  taken  by  Angria  off  Cochin.  She  was  in  charge  of  the 
Chief  mate  who  in  his  last  trip  took  up  much  of  the  ship  with  his 
private  trade.  Have  resolved  to  dismiss  him.  The  Kent  proving 
leaky  has  been  sent  to  Bengal  for  repair.  150  bales  have  been 
laded  on  the  Admiral  Vernon  and  she  has  been  sent  to  Fort  St.  David 


24  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

to  be  filled  up.  The  Lincoln  will  be  laded  at  Madras.  70  bales  of 
cloth  have  arrived  from  Vizagapatam,  and  more  are  expected  ;  351 
bales  have  come  from  Ingeram,  and  158  from  Madapollam. 

Morse  lately  received  a  letter  from  the  Nawab  forbidding  us  to 
coin  Arcot  rupees  in  our  own  mint.  Luckily  all  the  silver  for  Bengal 
had  already  been  coined,  as  our  Arcot  rupee  is  there  preferred  to 
those  of  the  Sarkar  mints,  though  the  latter  are  of  a  higher  touch. 
Believe  the  Nawab's  demand  is  occasioned  by  the  cessation  of  silver 
imports  from  Manilla,  Basra  and  the  Red  Sea  since  the  outbreak  of 
War  ;  this  has  decreased  his  revenues  and  made  him  less  inclined  to 
favour  us  in  this  respect. 

Tambi  Chetti,  etc.,  have  paid  in  5,000  Pags.  in  part  of  their 
debt,  with  the  assistance  of  their  profits  on  the  broadcloth.  Doubt 
if  the  whole  will  ever  be  recovered  but  will  do  their  best. 

The  shipping  was  unable  to  take  in  all  the  Madeira  wine 
ordered  for  Madras  and  Bengal ;  40  pipes  have  been  sold  @  55 
Pags.  the  pipe.  Copper  and  lead  selling  poorly  in  Bengal,  have 
landed  the  Bengal  consignments  on  two  of  the  ships  and  part  of 
the  lead  consigned  thither  on  a  third;  1,000  candies  of  lead  have 
been  sold  @  13  Pags.  22  fns.  67  c.  per  candy,  and  260  candies  of 
copper  @  83  Pags.  3  fns.  16  c.  105  chests  of  silver  have  been  coined 
and  2  lakhs  of  Madras  and  6'8  lakhs  of  Arcot  Rs.  have  been 
forwarded  to  Bengal;  this  is  about  half  the  total  received,  and 
more  cannot  be  spared,  as  2  ships  failed  to  call  here  last  year, 
which  has  also  occasioned  great  shortage  of  stores — medicines  for 
Hospital  and  aequo,  fortis  for  the  Mint. 

The  lucky  arrival  of  the  Europe  ships  removed  all  need  to 
reduce  the  investment  for  lack  of  funds.  But  should  this  year's 
shipping  also  be  hindered,  there  will  be  great  difficulties  in 
supplying  money.  Have  not  yet  had  time  to  discuss  the  coming- 
investment.  Propose  to  encourage  the  merchants  by  delivering  to 
them  the  broadcloth  on  the  terms  the  Company  directs.  The 
merchants  have  undergone  many  losses,  and  it  has  become  difficult 
to  engage  men  of  character  and  substance  in  the  Company's 
business;  nor  are  there  many  such  now  in  Madras,  for  the  des- 
truction of  Saadat-ul-lah  Khan's  family,  the  frequent  incursions  of 
the  Marathas,  and  Nizam-ul-mulk's  expedition  to  Trichinopoly. 
'  have  made  terrible  havock  among  the  chief  families,  and  more 
especially  the  shroffs  of  whom  there  are  scarce  any  of  note  left.' 

When  a  shortage  of  money  was  expected,  wrote  to  Bombay  and 
Bengal ;  the  former  offered  to  meet  bills  to  the  amount  of  4  lakhs 
of  rupees  if  we  had  occasion  for  them.     Would  have  been  glad  to 


CALENDAR  FOR  1745-1746  25 

draw    bills   to  that  amount  but  could  find    no    shroffs   capable   of 
negotiating  so  large  a  sum. 

167  bales  of  salempores  have  been  received  in  all  from 
Ganjam  ;  the  cloth  is  inferior  to  that  made  at  Vizagapatam ;  but 
as  the  manufacture  has  only  been  revived  lately,  it  may  be 
expected  to  improve.  Hallyburton  (Resident  at  Madapollam)  has 
requested  to  be  recalled,  worn  out  with  the  ill-treatment  of  the 
Country  Government.  The  factory  lies  between  two  different 
jurisdictions,  and  the  oppressions  have  become  so  severe  that  no 
advances  can  be  made  '  without  extreme  hazard.'  As  ordinary 
Madapollams  are  really  made  in  the  Ingeram  country,  are  awaiting 
Hallyburton's  and  Saunders'  arrival  to  decide  whether  or  no  to  close 
the  factory,  or  at  least  to  appear  to  do  so.  The  timber  still 
remaining  of  what  was  forced  upon  the  Madapollam  and  Ingeram 
factories  will  be  sent  down  to  Madras. 

Nizam-ul-mulk's  failure  to  fulfil  his  promises  after  the  consider- 
able presents  made  him  [at  Trichinopoly]  shows  how  little  reliance 
can  be  placed  in  him.  Namat-ul-lah  Khan  has  written  to  Morse 
agreeing  to  present  our  complaint  to  the  Nizam  provided  we  send 
gifts  suitable  for  so  great  a  man;  but  it  has  been  decided  to  spare 
further  expense. 

The  revolution  in  Pegu  seems  to  have  destroyed  all  prospect 
of  recovering  the  trade  there  for  some  time,  to  the  damage  of  the 
Company's  customs  and  injury  of  Madras  trade.  The  King  of 
Kandy  is  willing  to  release  the  Englishmen  who  have  been  kept 
there  so  long  ;  but  they  are  unwilling  to  abandon  their  native  wives 
and  children.  The  King  is  at  variance  with  the  Dutch,  and  has 
forbidden  betel-nut,  pepper  or  grain  to  be  carried  down  to  their 
settlements;  it  is  said  he  desires  a  seaport  under  his  own  control, 
but  the  Dutch  will  not  suffer  this. 

When  the  Nawab  was  encamped  at  Tanjore,  he  was  summoned 
by  the  Nizam  to  join  the  Nawabs  of  Cuddapah  and  Kurnool  in 
occupying  the  Passes  and  preventing  the  Marathas  from  invading 
the  province.  As  Anwar-ud-din  fell  sick,  he  summoned  Mahfuz 
Khan  from  Trichinopoly  to  command  his  forces.  It  has  been 
confidently  reported  that  the  Nizam  intends  to  remove  Anwar-ud- 
din,  having  received  larger  offers  from  another.  It  would  agree 
with  his  nature  to  accept  them,  for  he  already  sells  the  Northern 
provinces  yearly  to  the  highest  bidders.  '  The  truth  is  that  the  Mogul 
Empire  is  in  so  confused  and  enervated  a  state  that  the  authority 
of  the  Prince  is  totally  slighted  in  the  remoter  provinces,  and  none 
among  the  officers  of  the  Army  in  this  now  act  by  his  commission.' 
4 


26  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

In  view  of  the  French  War  and  threatened  Maratha  invasion, 
wish  the  Town  works  were  completed  ;  but  the  rains  have  been  so 
heavy  and  prolonged  that  no  progress  has  been  made.  Send  a 
plan  of  the  proposed  works.  The  design  is  to  make  the  defences 
of  the  White  Town  regular  and  strong  ;  those  of  the  Black  Town 
are  too  extensive  to  be  defended  by  the  garrison  against  a  numer- 
ous enemy.  The  completion  of  the  ditch  and  fausse  braye  at  Fort 
St.  David  will  cost  more  than  was  expected.  The  expense  of  the 
late  Nawab's  family  still  continues,  but  at  a  reduced  rate  ;  had  he 
survived,  it  would  have  been  amply  repaid.  As  Dost  AH  Khan's 
widow  does  not  care  to  trust  herself  or  her  wealth  in  a  Moor's 
Government,  the  expense  is  likely  to  continue. 

The  Betel  and  Tobacco  farm  has  been  let  at  the  old  rate  of 
10,000  Pags.  a  year;  the  Measuring  Duty  at  1,000  Pags.  ;  and  the 
Town  Brokerage  at  8oo  Pags.  The  Fishing  Farm  (which  would 
only  have  fetched  45  Pags.)  has  been  abolished.  The  Council 
has  promised  the  Betel  and  Tobacco  farmers  to  assist  in  preventing 
smuggling.  The  paddy  banksal  being  ruinous  has  been  pulled 
down  and  the  materials  sold.  The  Banksal  Duty  has  let  for  5 
years  at  710  Pags.,  as  the  season  is  good  and  much  paddy  likely 
to  be  imported  from  inland.  This  is  110  Pags.  a  year  more  than 
the  allowance  paid  to  the  Mayor's  Court.  Have  bought  a  new 
godown  and  house  adjoining  it  belonging  to  the  late  Randall 
Fowke,  as  they  lay  close  to  the  Export  Warehouse. 

Send  a  plan  of  Fort  St.  David.  The  S.  W.  Bastion  needs 
entire  rebuilding.  Wish  nothing  had  ever  been  spent  on  Cudda- 
lore,  as  it  is  undefended  towards  the  sea,  and  weakens  the  Fort 
St.  David  garrison  by  multiplying  its  duties. 

Have  still  received  nothing  for  the  revenues  of  the  new  villages 
for  1743,  and  think  it  wisest  at  present  to  overlook  the  matter; 
have  received  761  Pags.  in  money  and  grain  as  their  net  produce 
for  the  year  ending  March  31,  1745  ;  hope  in  time  to  be  left  in 
undisputed  possession  of  them. 

200  Pags.  of  Graham's  debt  were  recovered  last  year.  Will 
account  with  Captain  Gingens  for  the  mathematical  instruments 
brought  out  by  Hollard  or  recover  their  cost  from  the  latter's  pay. 
In  September  Stratton  went  to  Vizagapatam  to  recover  the  balances 
due  to  him  from  the  merchants,  and  his  debt  to  that  factory  will 
be  cleared  off  shortly.  Joseph  Goddard's  estate  has  just  sufficed 
to  pay  off  his  debt  to  the  Company.  Neither  George  Drake, 
Bulkeley  nor  Maskelyne  has  yet  arrived. 

Besides  the  6,000  Pags.  that  Padre  Severini  proposes  paying 
into  the  Company's  cash  towards  a    fund  for  a  Female    Orphan 


CALENDAR  FOR  1745-T746  27 

Asylum,  he  reports  that  Madeiros  has  lately  left  near  15,000  Pags. 
for  the  same  purpose.  Advise  its  acceptance,  as  it  cannot  then  be 
employed  at  Pondichery  to  injure  the  Company. 

Stephen  Lightfoot  entertained  as  Surgeon's  mate  at  Madras  at 
15  Pags.  a  month.  Recommend  Trenwith  to  be  treated  the  same 
as  the  other  writers  who  came  out  on  the  Wager.  Joseph  Fowke 
elected  Mayor  and  Matthew  Empson  Sheriff. 

Few  Europeans  in  garrison  here  and  at  Fort  St.  David;  need 
of  large  recruits,  as  French  have  been  reinforced  by  captured  ships' 
crews,  etc.,  and  may  receive  men  from  the  Islands. 

Have  received  accounts  of  the  merchants'  debts  esteemed 
desperate  at  Ingeram  and  Madapollam.  They  were  mostly  con- 
tracted in  Graham's  and  Goddard's  time  and  are  thought  mostly 
due  to  the  exactions  of  the  Country  Government. 

Sumatra  affairs. 

A  special  Sheriff's  seal  has  been  made,  as  the  private  seals 
hitherto  used  to  seal  up  sequestrated  premises,  etc.,  have  not 
always  been  respected. 

A  French  ship  has  been  taking  in  at  Mahe  more  provisions 
than  she  needs  for  her  own  use  ;  possibly  French  ships  are  cruising 
for  our  Bombay  vessels.  The  preparations  made  at  Pondichery 
and  the  reinforcements  received  from  Mahe  and  Karikal,  greatly 
alarmed  the  inhabitants  of  Cuddalore.  Barnett  accordingly  sent 
the  Deptford  thither ;  Lieutenant  Gingens  and  50  men  were  sent 
aboard  her.  The  French  have  been  expecting  shipping  for  some 
time  and  fear  it  may  be  intercepted.  Letters  from  Anjengo  were 
lately  stopped  at  Karikal  and  the  bearers  ill-treated  ;  Dupleix  has 
since  returned  the  letters  with  apologies. 

The  Dutch  have  returned  to  Porto  Novo  and  say  they  have  leave 
to  fortify  their  factory  there ;  the  Nawab  however  is  said  to  have 
refused  leave  for  this. 

Faillet,  who  formerly  lived  at  Madras  and  then  at  Manilla, 
appeared  in  April  1745  in  the  Straits  of  Malacca  under  a 
Spanish  commission.  He  took  a  Bengal  sloop  (Aken  master)  and 
engaged  the  Queen  of  Hungary  from  Bengal,  but  the  latter  had 
aboard  40  of  Schonamille's  party  and  some  French  officers,  and 
escaped  though  damaged.  Faillet  is  believed  to  have  returned 
home. 

Peter  Dencker  and  James  Calvineer,  having  delivered  230 
Pags.'  worth  of  provisions  to  the  Squadron,  have  been  allowed 
to  endorse  the  sum  of  their  bond.  Barnett  wintered  at  Mergui 
and    Achin,    returned   here   December    17.   and   hns   sailed    south 


28  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

with  the  Preston  and  Dolphin.  Desire  salt  provisions  sent  out  for  the 
Company's  sloops  which  have  occasionally  to  go  on  distant 
voyages  at  Barnett's  request  or  otherwise.  The  Squadron  has  been 
largely  supplied  from  Bengal  and  Madras;  send  bills  on  the  Navy 
Victuallers  for  £1,287  for  Bengal  and  £10,389  for  Madras.  Morse 
has  expended  482  Pags-  on  the  feeding  of  French  prisoners  put 
ashore  at  various  times  from  the  Squadron.  Are  sending  6  French 
prisoners  on  each  ship  despatched,  as  there  are  no  English  prisoners 
to  exchange  against  them. 

Supplement:  The  investment  consists  of  2,000  bales  from 
Madras,  2,806  from  Fort  St.  David,  475  from  Vizagapatam,  785  from 
Ingeram,  369  from  Madapollam  and  167  from  Ganjam — 6,602  in  all. 
After  the  despatch  of  the  shipping  about  1,200  bales  will  remain 
over.  Send  2  bales  of  the  sort  of  cloth  the  Dutch  are  providing 
at  Bimlipatam.  it  is  of  poor  quality,  and  if  once  accepted  by  the 
English,  the  latter  would  be  unable  to  get  more  cloth  such  as  they 
provide  at  present.  The  Managers-of  Chintadripet  have  provided 
24  corge  of  chintz  moorees  (worth  984  Pags.)  in  part  of  their  debt  : 
the  weavers  there  are  employed  by  the  Town  merchants.  Shipping 
news.  As  less  broadcloth  has  been  received  this  year  than  was 
indented  for,  desire  an  additional  300  bales.  Fort  William  have 
drawn  bills  on  Madras  for  81,203  Arcot  Rs.  in  favour  of  Barnett  etc. 
captors  of  some  French  ships.  This  is  embarrassing,  for  as 
much  money  as  could  be  spared  has  been  sent  to  Bengal  already. 
On  January  27  Morse  heard  from  Hinde  that  Dupleix  had  sent  500 
Europeans  and  500  natives  with  mortars  and  field-pieces  to  the 
edge  of  the  Fort  St.  David  bounds.  Morse  at  once  notified  Barnett, 
and  has  since  heard  that  Barnett  hove  in  sight  and  the  French 
withdrew  on  the  same  day.  Capture  of  the  Expedition  (14  guns,  57 
men)  by  the  Medivay  and  Lively  off  the  Nicobars.  She  is  the 
ship  already  mentioned  as  putting  into  Mahe;  she  brought  des- 
patches from  France  in  April  1745,  and  is  '  a  prime  sailer.'  The 
continuous  rains  have  necessitated  sending  about  13  tons  of  cloth 
unbleached.  The  same  may  have  to  be  done  at  Fort  St.  David. 
The  amount  of  the  Admiral  Vernon's  cargo  will  be  reported  from 
Fort  St.  David  ;  that  of  the  Lincoln  is  145720  Pags.  ;  diamonds 
registered  on  the  two  ships  89,579  Pags.  ;  balance  in  cash  36,748 
Star  and  359  Madras  Pags. 

Postscript :   Bills    of    exchange     and     certificates    drawn     for 

27,495  Pags. 

Appended  are  :— (1)  register  of  diamonds,  etc.  ;  (2)  account 
produce  of  coral  for  which  remittances  are  now  made  ;  (3)  manifest 
of  private  trade  ;  (4)  list  of  the  packet;  and  (5)  sailing  orders. 


CALENDAR  FOR  174^(746  20 

Despatch  from  John  Hinde,  etc.,  to  the  Company.   Fort 
St.  David.    February  i,  1746.    Received  August  30,  1746. 

[Factory  Records,   Fort    St.   David.    Vol.    10,  pp.  5  6  (India  Office 
transcript)] 

Write  by  the  Admiral  Vernon  which  arrived  from  Madras 
January  18  to  be  filled  for  Europe.  She  already  had  her  saltpetre, 
redwood,  and  150  bales;  and  she  has  now  been  filled  up.  Her 
cargo  is  invoiced  at  127,732  Pags.  Have  put  aboard  310  bales  of 
brown  cloth,  according  to  orders  from  Madras,  as  there  is  not 
enough  already  bleached  to  make  up  her  cargo.  Though  the 
season  has  been  unfavourable  for  washing,  have  sent  to  Madras 
317  bales  of  last  year's  investment  and  728  bales  of  this  year's,  and 
put  aboard  this  ship  1,253  bales  of  bleached,  besides  the  310  of 
brown  cloth.  The  total  year's  investment  is  about  2,800  bales. 
This  ship  will  sail  with  the  Lincoln  and  Edgebaston,  convoyed  by 
His  Majesty's  ships  Deptford  and  Dolphin.  Barnett  is  off  Pondi- 
chery  with  the  Harwich,  Medway,  Preston,  and  Lively  ;  the  Winchester 
and  Medway' s  Prize  are  daily  expected. 

Despatch  from  Nicholas  Morse,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  George.  February  7,  1746.    [Public  Despatches  to 

England,  Vol.  15,  pp.  II4-II5  {copy  ll/2  pp.)  Damaged.) 

Cite  despatch  of  [January  31.]  The  Lincoln  and  Edgebaston 
sailed  on  the  2nd  to  join  the  Squadron.  His  Majesty's  ship,  the 
Medway' s  Prise  arrived  with  the  prize  ship  Restoration  (formerly  the 
Charles  owned  by  Dupleix).  Schonamille's  people  carried  her  off 
from  Mergui,  but  Captain  Griffin  secured  both  the  ship  and  her 
crew  of  whom  24  were  English.  There  is  recent  news  that  the 
Nizam  has  crossed  the  Kistna  on  his  way  to  the  Carnatic,  and  that 
the  Marathas  also  are  on  this  side  of  the  river.     [Portions  torn.] 

Appended  are: — (I)  list  of  the  packet;  and  (2)  manifest  of 
private  trade  on  the  Admiral  Vernon. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Nicholas  Morse,  etc. 
East  India  House.  January  10,  1746.  [Public  Despatches 
from  England,  Vol.  49,  pp.  3-5  (original  3  pp.)] 

Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  despatches  of  September  5,  1744, 
and  January  8  and  February  15,  1745.  Of  the  14  ships  taken  up, 
I  is  destined  for  Madras  and  China,  and  5  for  Madras  and 
Bengal.  The  War  against  France  and  Spain  is  vigorously  carried 
on.  The  Secret  Committee  consists  of  Dodding  Braddyll,  Harry 
Gough,  Samuel  Feake  and  Alexander  Hume.     Bills  drawn  by  the 


30  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Mocha  supercargoes  on  Madras  must  be  met ;  and  any  coffee  sent 
from  there  forwarded  on  the  returning  ships.  Approve  the  con- 
siderable investment  made  ;  as  large  an  investment  as  possible 
to  be  continued,  raising  what  money  is  needed  by  loans,  as  the 
supplies  to  be  sent  are  likely  to  be  late  in  arrival  owing  to  the 
distress  of  public  credit  and  the  late  arrival  of  the  India  ships.  To 
encourage  money  to  be  paid  into  cash  for  bills  on  the  Company, 
4d.  a  pagoda  extra  is  to  be  allowed  for  this  season.  In  case  the 
capture  of  prizes  by  the  Squadron  should  furnish  Madras  with 
gold  or  silver,  what  can  be  spared  should  be  sent  to  Bengal.  In 
view  of  the  substantial  reasons  urged  in  the  last  despatches  from 
Madras,  continue  the  permission  to  sell  woollen  goods  at  outcry  or 
deliver  them  to  the  merchants,  as  may  be  most  expedient.  Have 
transferred  the  Rev.  Francis  Fordyce  from  Sumatra  to  Madras. 

Despatch  from  the  Company   to  Nicholas  Morse,  etc. 
East  India  House.    March   27,  1746.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  49,  pp.  13-15  (original  3  pp.) J 

Cite  despatch  of  January  10.  Have  taken  up  an  additional  ship 
for  Madras  and  Bengal.  Have  lent  no  money  to  the  Commanders 
at  respondentia  this  year.  Have  ordered  300  pipes  of  Madeira  to 
be  sent  by  the  Montfort,  half  for  Madras  and  half  for  Bengal. 
Officers  are  allowed  20  pipes  as  their  privilege.  Enclose  list 
of  cloth,  etc.,  to  be  provided.  Moses  Salomons  and  Samuel  Moses 
allowed  to  reside  at  Madras  as  diamond  merchants.  Madras  and 
Bengal  ships  are  ordered  to  put  into  Madras  provided  they  can 
make  it  before  the  end  of  August.  Navy  stores  sent  out  for  the 
Squadron.  Have  licensed  large  quantity  of  coral,  foreign  silver, 
emeralds,  bugles,  etc.,  to  be  returned  in  diamonds  on  the  usual 
terms.  Have  received  despatch  from  Madras,  dated  July  3,  1745. 
Have  entertained  as  writers  at  Madras  : — Richard  Turner,  Henry 
Vansittart,  John  Duncombe,  William  Read,  John  Starke,  Richard 
Fairfield,  and  Charles  Turner.  The  Company's  servants  are  to  be 
kept  close  to  business.  Yesterday  took  up  the  Bombay  Castle  for 
Madras. 

Despatch  from  the   Company   to  Nicholas  Morse,  etc. 

EAST  INDIA  HOUSE.     APRIL  4,  1746.     [Public  Despatches  from 

England,  Vol.  49,  p.  95  (original  I  p.)     There  is  a  copy  at  p.  33.] 

Cite   despatch   of  March  27.     This   goes   by  the  Houghton.     All 

spare   treasure    to    be   forwarded     to    Bengal.     Have    appointed 

Samuel   Parkes  a   factor  and  Sub- Accountant  in  Bengal ;  he  is  to 


CALENDAR  FOR  1745-1745  31 

proceed  thither  by  the  first  opportunity.  As  James  Lauder,  in  the 
Portuguese  service  at  Macao,  has  been  giving  early  intelligence  of 
the  motions  of  Spanish  ships  in  the  China  Seas,  he  is  not  to  be 
molested  on  account  of  being  in  a  foreign  service,  should  he  come 
to  any  of  the  Company's  settlements. 


DESPATCH  FROM  THE  COMPANY  TO  NICHOLAS  MORSE,  ETC. 
EAST  INDIA  HOUSE.  MAY  7,  1746.  [Public  Despatches  from 
England,  Vol.  49,  pp.  23-31  {original  9  pp.)] 

Cite  despatch  of  April  4,  1746.  This  goes  by  the  Britannia. 
Ships'  Captains  disobeying  the  Company's  instructions  to  bo 
called  before  Council  and  reminded  of  their  duties.  Approve 
Captain  Steward  of  the  Winchester's  being  obliged  to  give  a  bond 
for  the  chest  of  silver  and  the  aquafortis  missing  on  board  his  ship. 
Lesser  deficiencies  must  be  made  good  by  the  Captains  according 
to  charterparty.  Besides  the  Company's  duties,  owners  are 
entitled  to  freight  on  all  garnets  and  other  bulky  articles  sent 
home  on  private  account ;  the  Captains  should  be  given  express 
orders  to  receive  them  aboard.  Captains  are  reported  to  have 
touched  at  Durgarayapatnam,  Krishnapatnam,  and  other  places, 
for  purposes  of  private  trade  when  en  route  from  Madras  to 
Calcutta  ;  this  is  to  be  forbidden. 

Regarding  the  alleged  deficiencies  in  the  chests  of  silver  sent 
out,  have  tested  some  which  were  ready  packed  and  which  proved 
quite  correct ;  believe  the  complaints  must  be  due  to  defective 
weights  or  roguery  of  the  natives  employed  in  the  warehouse. 
Desire  to  know  every  year  the  probable  sales  of  copper  and  the 
estimation  in  which  the  different  kinds  are  held.  Will  send  all 
the  guns  and  muskets  procurable  this  wartime.  No  silver  is  to  be 
sold  to  the  Nawab  or  others  except  for  ready  money.  Deficiency 
of  14  lb.  in  a  chest  of  silver  sent  from  Madras  to  China. 

Approve  of  bringing  in  new  merchants,  as  the  old  ones  are 
reduced  in  circumstances,  in  order  to  maintain  the  investment  at  its 
high  standard.  The  French  will  not  be  able  to  compete  much  now  ; 
in  case  Dutch  rivalry  proves  troublesome,  the  brokerage  maybe 
increased  or  prices  raised  if  absolutely  necessary.  The  servants 
at  the  Northern  factories  must  do  their  best  to  keep  the  country 
officials  in  a  good  humour,  so  as  to  avoid  stoppages  of  trade.  The 
balances  due  from  the  managers  of  Chintadripet  and  the  Fort  St. 
David  merchants  must  be  recovered.  Buyers  in  England  do  not 
make  as  much  difference  between  the  different  qualities  of  cloth  as 
is  show** in  the  invoices;  inferior  sorts  may  be  rejected  where 
there  are  no  competitors  ;  but  where  there  are,  the  English  must 
take  the  same  sorts  as  they  do  or  go  without'most  of  the  cloth. 


32  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Are  pleased  to  observe  that  owing  to  Morse's  attention  and  Haji 
Hadi's  assistance  the  new  Nawab  has  not  recalled  the  grants  made 
the  English  by  his  predecessors.  Trust  the  expenses  of  the  late 
Nawab's  family's  residence  in  Madras  will  be  reduced  as  soon  as 
decently  may  be.  Morse's  letter  to  Nizam-ul-mulk  was  proper 
though  unsuccessful ;  trust  that  in  future  no  considerable  sum  will 
be  disbursed  till  the  promised  grants  have  been  actually  made. 
Are  gratified  that  Muhammad  Saiyid  Khan's  grant  for  coining 
Arcot  Rupees  is  still  unrevoked.  Regret  that  so  much  silver  has 
had  to  be  sent  to  Bengal  uncoined,  and  that  50  chests  of  Arcot 
Rupees  have  had  to  be  sold  at  Madras;  the  latter  partly  because 
it  may  annoy  the  Nawab  and  partly  because  the  silver  would  have 
produced  more  if  coined  into  Madras  Rupees. 

Cheerfully  acquiesce  in  repairs,  provided  they  are  substantially 
executed.  Approve  the  consideration  whether  the  west  front  of 
Fort  St.  George  may  not  be  as  well  fortified  by  less  expensive 
measures  than  those  Knipe  suggested.  If  topasses  are  really  use- 
less, no  more  should  be  kept  than  are  needed  to  ease  the  duty  of 
the  European  soldiers.  If  decrease  in  the  customs  has  occurred  in 
spite  of  just  administration  of  the  Customs-house  and  due 
encouragement  of  all  traders,  it  must  be  submitted  to. 

Confirm  that  'able  gunner'  Joseph  Smith  in  his  station  at 
Madras.  Edward  Fowke  to  give  security  as  Member  of  Council. 
In  preparing  the  annual  statement  of  quick  stock,  all  credits  must 
be  included  and  all  Europe  goods,  etc.,  valued  at  the  current  price 
less  10  %.  When  Belsches  succeeds  to  a  surgeonship  at  Madras, 
John  Sheafe  is  to  be  Surgeon  at  Fort  St.  David,  if  agreeable  to  the 
Deputy  Governor  and  Council,  and  Mr.  Scott  must  be  provided  for 
otherwise. 

Send  list  of  deficiencies  in  the  cargoes  from  Madras.  To  avoid 
overburdening  Madras  with  tonnage,  3  ships  go  out  with  iron 
kintledge  so  that  they  may  be  sent  to  China,  if  necessary,  with 
£15,000  worth  of  silver  on  each  and,  if  no  private  ship  is  sent,  about 
£5,000  worth  of  goods.  On  Benyon's  advice,  have  remitted  the 
fine  imposed  on  Sunku  Rama  of  4,289%  Pags.  at  his  son  Venkata- 
rama  Chetti's  petition.  The  money  is  therefore  to  be  refunded. 
A  discharge  should  be  taken  from  him  and  others  for  all  demands 
on  account  of  the  broadcloth  which  they  alleged  should  have  been 
delivered  to  them. 

The  Attorney  and  Solicitor-General  consider  that  actions  in 
the  Mayor's  Court  on  old  bonds,  etc.,  must  be  determined  according 
to  the  English  Statute  of  Limitations.  [A  duplicate  original, 
dated  June  6,  occurs  at  pp.  123  —  1 32,  with  four  additional  paragraphs 
containing  shipping  news.] 


THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES,  1746-1747. 


Despatch  from  John  Hinde,  etc.,  to  the  Company.  Fort 
St.  David.  OCTOBER  17,  1746.  [Public  Despatches  to  England, 
Vol.  1 6,  pp.  1-7  (Copy  6y2  pp.)  Damaged.] 
Announce  the  capture  of  Madras  by  the  French.  '  The  gentle- 
men there'  lay  the  blame  on  the  absence  of  the  Squadron  ;  will 
therefore  give  an  account  of  the  Squadron's  movements  and  leave 
the  Company  to  form  its  own  opinion  : — Barnett  died  at  Fort  St. 
David  on  April  29.  The  Winchester  arrived  May  25  ;  and  Peyton, 
who  had  succeeded  to  the  command  as  senior  Captain,  resolved  to 
sail  with  the  whole  Squadron  to  Trincomalee  Bay  in  order  to  refit  the 
Medway  which  was  very  leaky.  On  May  30,  the  Company's  ship 
Princess  Mary  arrived  on  which  were  to  be  sent  to  Madras  all  the 
bales  ready  and  such  part  of  60  chests  of  treasure  (brought  from 
Bombay  by  the  Winchester)  as  was  not  needed  at  Fort  St.  David.  On 
June  9,  she  was  despatched  with  only  222  bales  (as  the  weather  had 
been  too  rough  to  lade  more)  and  46  chests  of  treasure,  under  escort 
of  the  Lively ;  and  the  rest  of  the  Squadron  sailed  for  Trincomalee. 
On  June  17,  Peyton  wrote  that  the  Preston  carried  away  her  bowsprit 
just  as  they  were  reaching  the  Bay  and  that  in  consequence  he  had 
borne  up  for  Negapatam  to  refit  her.  On  June  25,  in  Negapatam 
roads,  at  day-break,  strange  ships  were  sighted  from  the  mast-head. 
They  proved  to  be  9  French  ships  ;  but  the  winds  were  so  light 
that  the  Squadrons  could  not  get  up  with  each  other  till  half  past  4, 
when  an  engagement  began  which  lasted  till  7.  They  were  near 
each  other  all  next  day,  and  at  4  p.m.  Peyton  called  a  Council  of 
War,  when  it  was  agreed  to  sail  for  Trincomalee.  The  French 
sailed  for  Pondichery  where  they  arrived  June  27.  The  English 
losses  were  14  killed  and  46  wounded  (but  none  touched  on  the 
Medway).  Do  not  know  the  French  losses.  The  French  Squadron 
consisted  of  the  Achilles  (a  70  gun-ship),  6  Company's  and  2 
country  ships.  Peyton  remained  at  Trincomalee  till  the  beginning 
of  August  and  was  off  Negapatam  August  6.  One  of  the  French 
ships  sailed  for  Bengal  but  was  lost  in  the  Hugli  with  280  Euro- 
peans. The  rest  sailed  south  from  Pondichery  July  24,  and  were 
5 


34  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

in  the  Negapatam  roads  when  Peyton  appeared.  They  sailed  out  to 
meet  him  ;  but  he  avoided  them  on  the  7th,  8th  and  9th  August, 
and  disappeared  on  the  10th.  On  the  13th,  the  French  returned 
to  Pondichery,  and  on  the  17th  sailed  for  Madras,  where  they  bom- 
barded the  Fort  and  the  Princess  Mary.  It  is  said  they  had  two 
motives  : — (1)  to  get  a  pretext  for  telling  the  Country  powers  that 
the  English  began  hostilities  ashore ;  and  (2)  to  see  whether  Peyton 
would  come  to  the  rescue  of  Madras.  On  August  23  Peyton  put 
into  Pulicat  road,  learnt  of  the  French  Squadron's  movements,  and 
disappeared  no  one  knows  whither.  The  last  letter  from  the 
Squadron  was  one  from  Peyton  to  Morse,  dated  August  4,  when  he 
had  just  finished  refitting.  His  '  unhappy  conduct  so  animated 
our  enemies  that  they  determined  on  attacking  Fort  St.  George.' 
They  landed  at  St.  Thome  or  thereabouts,  and  began  the  attack 
on  September  5,  chiefly  depending  on  their  shells.  The  place 
surrendered  September  10,  but  it  is  not  known  precisely  on 
what  terms ;  anyhow,  no  terms  have  yet  been  complied  with, 
and  d'Espremenil  has  set  out  from  Pondichery  to  command  the 
place.  On  October  2  and  3,  when  the  French  ships  were  laden 
with  money,  goods,  etc.,  a  storm  arose,  in  which  3  ships  foun- 
dered, 1,200  men  were  lost,  and  the  Squadron  so  shattered  that 
the  intended  attack  on  Fort  St.  David  has  become  for  the  present 
impossible  ;  the  officers  consider  that  if  it  had  been  made,  '  we 
should  have  taken  up  more  of  their  time  than  they  had  to  spare.' 
20  men  from  the  Squadron  left  sick  at  Fort  St.  David  '  have  put 
our  gun-room  in  excellent  order ' ;  a  few  soldiers  have  escaped 
hither  from  Madras  ;  and  the  Fort  is  stored  for  6  months.  The 
French  now  talk  of  attacking  by  land,  but  with  common  prudence 
the  Fort  can  be  held  against  them  till  we  are  relieved.  The 
Company's  sloops  Advice  and  Mermaid  were  both  taken  at  Madras 
and  lost  in  the  storm  ;  the  Princess  Mary  was  scuttled  and  run  into 
the  surf,  but  the  French  have  got  her  off;  the  Sumatra  and  Brilliant 
from  Sumatra  passed  Fort  St.  David,  August  19,  and  ran  straight 
into  the  French  Squadron  which  was  flying  English  colours.  The 
French  say  they  had  the  Nawab's  permission  to  attack  Madras, 
which  they  got  for  a  present  of  a  lakh  of  Pagodas ;  and  when  they 
landed,  they  produced  the  Nawab's  parwana.  Everything  has 
been  done  to  convince  the  Nawab  of  the  injustice  and  impolicy  of 
such  conduct ;  and  he  denies  that  he  ever  did  so,  says  that  his  son 
was  advancing  to  relieve  Madras  just  when  it  surrendered,  and 
offers  to  join  in  attacking  Pondichery.  However  he  is  also 
corresponding  with  the  French  and  no  doubt  expects  his  share  of 


CALENDAR  FOR  1746- 1747  35 

the  booty,  though  in  this  he  is  likely  to  be  disappointed.  Will 
keep  on  good  terms  with  him,  but  doubt  receiving  much  assistance 
from  him.  Have  written  to  Bengal  and  Bombay  for  help. 
3  French  Europe  ships  reached  Mahe,  August  25  ;  and  Pondichery 
September  27.  They  sailed  thence  October  14.  4  others  that 
came  out  with  them  are  said  to  have  sailed  for  China.  No  news 
of  any  English  shipping  from  Europe.  Have  not  heard  from 
Bengal  this  season.  Hinde  has  received  only  3  letters  from 
Morse,  and  those  written  in  such  general  terms  (for  fear  of 
interception)  that  nothing  is  known  of  the  situation  there.  De 
Jong  (Chief  of  Pulicat)  is  said  by  Morse  to  have  sent  back  all  the 
women  and  children  of  Madras  and  refused  them  shelter;  but 
Mersen  (Governor  of  Negapatam)  has  very  kindly  received  all  the 
families  from  Fort  St.  David.  On  hearing  of  the  fall  of  Madras, 
stopped  the  investment,  having  only  about  10,000  Pags.  in  hand. 
Have  1,500  bales  and  will  be  able  to  make  them  up  to  1, 800  in 
January,  if  a  ship  puts  in  to  receive  them. 

Supplement:  The  last  letter  from  Morse  mentions  Articles  of 
Capitulation  for  ransom,  but  the  terms  are  not  stated.  Whatever 
they  are,  Dupliex  is  keeping  them  ill.  He  sent  out  300  men  to 
seize  refugees  from  Madras  and  keeps  them  as  prisoners  of  war. 
The  3  French  ships  have  returned  and  with  7  others  are  in  the 
roads  in  the  offing. 

Appended  are  : — (i)  letter  to  St.  Helena  reporting  the  loss  of 
Madras ;  and  (2)  sailing  orders  for  the  Porto  Bello  sloop. 


Despatch  from  John  Hinde,  etc.,  to  the  Company.    Fort 

ST.  DAVID.  JANUARY  10,  1747.  [Public  Despatches  to  England, 
Vol.  16,  pp.  7-12  {Copy  sVz  PP-)  Damaged] 
Since  October  matters  have  continued  uncertain.  Neither 
letter  nor  help  received  from  Bengal.  Have  induced  the  Nawab 
to  declare  in  our  favour ;  and  at  the  beginning  of  December 
Muhammad  AH  was  sent  here  with  about  2,000  horse.  On 
December  8,  the  French  advanced  against  Fort  St.  David  with 
their  whole  force.  '  We  made  the  best  defence  we  could ' ;  and 
though  they  got  as  far  as  the  Garden  House,  they  were  driven  out 
on  the  9th  and  compelled  '  to  a  very  precipitate  retreat '  in  which 
they  are  thought  to  have  lost  170  men.  They  abandoned  2 
mortars  and  all  their  ammunition,  etc.  On  December  20,  they 
prepared  to  surprise  us  by  sea,  but  Providence  disappointed  them, 


36  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

some  boats  being  driven  ashore  and  their  ammunition  spoilt.  On 
December  31,  '  we  had  a  skirmish  by  land  in  which  we  again 
obtained  an  advantage  over  them,  and  had  we  even  then  been 
succoured  Your  Honour's  affairs  would  have  been  in  all  human 
probability  restored  in  a  great  measure  if  not  altogether.'  Mahfuz 
Khan  has  now  joined  his  brother  and  the  camp  expenses  amount 
to  near  6,000  Rs.  a  day ;  unless  shipping  arrives  soon,  fear 
they  will  quit  us.  There  are  4  French  ships  at  Pondichery,  and 
5  others.  The  situation  is  precarious,  so  this  is  sent  in  haste  to 
Tranquebar  lest  a  siege  should  prevent  the  possibility  of  writing. 
Think  it  unkind  that  the  other  settlements  have  sent  no  help. 
Have  only  expended  3,000  [Pags.  ?]  in  presents  to  the  Nawab  ; 
but  the  French  are  making  great  efforts  to  come  to  terms  with  him. 
A  message  has  just  been  received  from  the  Nawab's  sons  that  he 
has  released  4  French  prisoners  and  is  actually  treating  with 
the  French.  Will  do  everything  possible  to  secure  performance 
of  the  Nawab's  promises,  including  the  restoration  of  Madras,  but 
his  councils  are  influenced  by  little  but  immediate  gain. 

On  October  23  Griffin  with  His  Majesty's  ships  Princess  Mary 
and  Pearl  reached  Achin  and  sailed  to  join  the  Squadron  at  Balasore 
November  2.  On  November  5,  the  Britannia  put  into  Madras,  but 
escaped  capture  and  is  said  to  be  at  Galle,  whither  orders  have 
been  sent  for  her  to  come  to  Fort  St.  David.  The  Houghton,  having 
failed  to  make  Madras,  put  in  here  on  December  5  ;  but,  on  hearing 
that  Madras  had  been  taken,  her  Captain  sailed  that  night, 
without  landing  the  packet  or  taking  any  notice  of  the  signals 
that  were  made.  This  extremely  disheartened  the  garrison. 
Other  shipping  news.  At  Pondichery  the  St.  Louis  is  lading  for 
Europe  and  the  Princess  Mary  [an  English  merchant  ship  captured 
by  the  French  in  1746]  for  the  Islands.  Morse,  Monson,  Stratton 
and  Savage  are  there ;  Eyre  at  Tranquebar ;  Harris  here ;  and 
Fowke  at  Pulicat.  Several  of  the  junior  servants  are  here  and 
have  been  given  a  subsistence  allowance.  John  Pybus  has  been 
employed  in  the  Secretary's  office.  The  French  have  in  the  last 
month  removed  everything  useful  from  Madras  and  stocked 
themselves  with  grain  from  that  place.  Having  been  desired 
by  the  Madras  Councillors  to  send  the  necessary  orders  to  the 
Northern  factories,  desired  Vizagapatam  and  Ingeram  to  send 
their  bales  hither  under  proper  convoy.  They  have  about  800 
each  and  there  are  1,700  at  Fort  St.  David.  Have  done  everything 
possible  for  the  defence  of  the  place  but  are  in  the  utmost  want  of 
almost  everything. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1746-1747  37 

Postscript  :  News  from  Vizagapatam  that  the  Kent  has 
arrived  to  lade  the  bales  there  and  at  Ingeram,  that  the  Medway 
lost  her  mainmast  in  heaving  down  in  the  Hugli,  and  that  6  ships 
would  be  ready  to  sail  in  December.  Since  that,  news  has  come 
of  Griffin's  reaching  Balasore  on  December  7  ;  so  the  Squadron  is 
daily  expected.  It  is  plain  that  the  Fort  William  Council  '  have 
not  had  the  least  thought  for  us.'  Hope  it  will  be  possible  to 
humour  the  Nawab  a  little  longer,  or  that  in  some  other  way  Fort 
St.  David  may  be  preserved  till  help  arrives,  in  which  case  the 
next  despatch  may  announce  the  recovery  of  Madras  on  reason- 
able terms,  though  it  may  cost  considerable  presents  to  the 
Nawab. 

Appended  is  a  letter  to  James  Hugonin  at  Tranquebar,  direct- 
ing him  to  take  charge  of  the  Company's  packets  on  a  Danish  ship 
by  which  he  is  going  to  Europe. 


Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 

FORT  St.  DAVID.     MAY  2,  1747.     [Public  Despatches  to  England, 
Vol.  16,  pp.  13-40  {Copy  27%  pp.)    Damaged.] 

This  despatch  sent  by  the  Britannia  which  reached  Fort  St. 
David,  February  22.  Regret  despatching  her  so  late,  but  a  cargo 
will  doubtless  prove  very  serviceable  to  the  Company.  She  brings 
1,784  bales  invoiced  at  144,474  Pags.  Wish  Fort  William  had 
sent  a  convoy  earlier  as  desired.  Were  brought  to  the  utmost 
extremity  on  being  abandoned  by  the  Moors,  who  went  away 
owing  to  the  long  delay  of  our  shipping,  and  the  French  offers 
which  rose  to  5  lakhs  of  rupees.  '  Both  their  armies  [i.e.,  Mahfuz 
Khan's  and  Muhammad  Ali's]  decamped  '  February  14.  On 
February  28,  the  French  marched  out  of  Pondichery  and  next  day 
made  another  attempt  upon  the  place,  with  much  larger  forces 
than  before  to  which  the  English  could  oppose  only  a  quarter  as 
many.  We  sent  out  all  the  peons,  with  100  Europeans,  200 
topasses  and  some  Artillery,  in  order  to  delay  their  progress.  We 
kept  them  from  crossing  the  Pennar  all  that  day,  but  at  night  were 
forced  to  withdraw  to  the  Fort.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the 
2nd  March  they  marched  to  the  Garden  House ;  but  soon  after 
Griffin  hove  in  sight  with  9  vessels,  on  which  the  French  retired 
so  hurriedly  that,  though  Griffin  immediately  landed  800  men, 
pursuit  was  useless.  Several  houses  about  the  Bounds  were  burnt, 
but  the  damage  might  have  been  much  greater. 


38  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  despatches  dated  January  10, 
March  27,  April  4  and  May  7,  1746  with  duplicates  of  others. 
Of  the  Company's  ships  only  the  Houghton  and  Britannia 
have  touched  here.  On  February  1 6  the  Princess  Amelia  put 
into  Madras  and  was  taken  ;  the  money,  etc.,  aboard  her  enabled 
the  French  to  tempt  the  Moors  over  to  their  side.  Other  shipping 
news.  The  Brilliant  has  been  recaptured  by  the  Squadron  on  her 
way  from  the  Islands  and  has  been  bought  for  the  Company 
for  7,150  Rs.  There  were  8  French  ships  there  when  she 
sailed — of  which  the  Achilles  and  another  were  destined  for  Europe 
with  La  Bourdonnais.  Floyer  will  answer  the  letter  from  the 
Secret  Committee  addressed  to  Morse.  Have  advertised  the  Com- 
pany's offer  to  allow  4a1.  more  per  pagoda  in  bills  for  cash  paid 
into  the  treasury ;  but  expect  no  considerable  sum.  Will  hardly 
be  able  to  examine  into  the  suspected  fraud  of  the  Indians  em- 
ployed in  weighing  off  the  Company's  silver  sent  by  the  York,  as 
that  was  done  at  Fort  St.  George.  As  soon  as  more  silver  is 
received  than  is  absolutely  needed  at  Fort  St.  David,  the  surplus 
shall  be  sent  to  Bengal. 

When  the  Admiral  Vernon  sailed  in  February  1746,  there 
remained  over  416  bales.  Since  then  1,600  have  been  provided. 
Had  there  been  peace  and  a  sufficient  supply  of  pagodas,  almost 
any  quantity  could  have  been  got ;  but  the  merchants'  balances 
had  to  be  called  in  in  order  to  pay  the  garrison.  The  Kent  was 
sent  from  Bengal  to  fetch  the  Vizagapatam  and  Ingeram  bales  ; 
she  did  not  reach  Vizagapatam  in  time,  but  112  bales  were  sent 
later  to  Bengal  by  a  country  sloop  convoyed  by  His  Majesty's 
ship  Lively.  688  bales  have  reached  here  from  Ingeram  and 
82  from  Ganjam.  Will  get  as  much  cloth  as  possible,  and  hope 
to  send  a  ship  home  in  September.  Have  not  yet  been  able  to 
procure  pagodas  (or  gold  to  make  them  with)  for  a  new  invest- 
ment. Have  opened  a  gold  and  silver  mint  at  Cuddalore  under 
Foxall,  the  Assay  Master  at  Madras,  who  has  come  in  with  all  the 
people  and  materials  he  could  save  from  that  mint.  The  Dutch 
were  already  making  proposals  to  the  Nawab  to  supplant  us,  but 
we  were  just  in  time  to  prevent  them.  The  Dutch  and  Danes 
have  been  the  only  competitors  in  buying  cloth,  the  French  having 
bought  none  ;  the  only  cloth  the  last  have  sent  home  has  been 
that  taken  at  Madras.  The  Danes  are  troublesome  rather  by 
lowering  the  quality  by  taking  bad  cloth  than  by  purchasing 
largely  ;  but  the  Dutch  are  'every  year  falling  into  our  sortments.' 
Have  allowed  the  merchants  a  further  6  months  in  which  to  pay 


CALENDAR  FOR  1746-1747  39 

off  their  old  balances.  Only  one  Macao  ship  has  arrived  this  year 
and  brought  little  or  no  tea  ;  will  buy  when  opportunity  offers  and 
encourage  the  sending  of  tea  hither. 

The  province  this  year  has  been  free  from  Maratha  invasions. 
Nothing  but  money  will  fix  the  Nawab  in  our  interest ;  and  the 
French  offers  are  so  large  that  nothing  less  than  lakhs  will  satisfy 
him.  Such  sums  are  too  considerable  for  the  Council  to  dispose  of, 
and  nothing  more  has  been  done  than  to  promise  in  general  terms 
the  Company's  gratitude,  should  any  assistance  be  given  ;  which 
with  small  presents  as  an  earnest  may  have  the  desired  effect. 
When  the  Nawab's  two  armies  were  camped  here  for  nearly  3 
months  at  a  cost  of  6,000  Rs.  a  day,  the  presents  given  did  not 
exceed  40,000  Rs. — a  small  sum  compared  with  the  advantage 
of  the  French  defeat  in  December.  Hinde  offered  them  2,000  Rs. 
a  day  if  they  would  only  stay  10  days  longer,  when  the  fleet  was 
expected  ;  but  this  was  refused. 

In  consequence  of  Smith's  report  on  the  defences  in  1745  and 
the  advice  of  a  man  recommended  as  skilled  in  fortification 
[George  Jones],  the  South  West  Bastion  has  been  rebuilt,  the  ditch 
completed,  the  parapet  thickened  to  6  feet,  and  a  bomb-proof 
1  casern  '  built  inside  the  Fort.  Now  by  the  advice  of  Griffin  and 
others,  are  widening  the  ditch  to  100  feet  broad  and  building  a  horn- 
work  and  covered  way  to  the  northward,  with  other  works  on  the 
east  and  west,  in  case  of  attack  when  the  Squadron  has  to 
leave  the  Coast  in  the  monsoon.  The  estimated  expense  of  the  new 
works  is  85,730  Pags.  Have  been  pretty  successful  in  inducing 
work-people  from  Madras  to  come  hither.  Have  pulled  down  all 
buildings  (including  the  hospital)  within  400  yards  of  the  Fort. 
Have  bought  a  house  for  the  use  of  Griffin  and  the  Naval  officers, 
as  the  Garden  House  was  too  remote.  Need  an  Engineer,  as  Smith 
died  at  Madras  on  the  second  day  of  the  siege. 

The  customs  have  decreased  as  the  French  Squadron  prevented 
the  arrival  of  shipping.  The  grain  customs  were  for  a  while  taken 
off  owing  to  a  scarcity  of  grain.  The  farms  are  all  let  at  the  usual 
rents. 

Governor  Hinde  died  April  14.  Edward  Croke,  the  Second, 
declined  the  chair  owing  to  his  age  and  ill-health.  Accordingly 
Charles  Floyer,  the  next  in  seniority  at  Fort  St.  David,  became 
Governor.  Alexander  Wynch  has  been  appointed  Paymaster, 
and  Thomas  Cooke  junior  Storehouse-keeper.  Morse  and  Eyre 
are  at  Tranquebar;  Monson  has   sailed   for  Europe  on  a  Danish 


40  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

ship;  Fowke  is  in  Bengal;  and  Stratton  is  reported  to  have 
sailed  thence  for  Europe.  Have  kept  a  general  table  for  the 
junior  Madras  servants,  as  they  have  drawn  no  pay  since  the  loss 
of  Madras.  Have  entertained  Sidney  Foxall  to  manage  the  mint 
at  his  former  pay,  etc.  Of  the  writers  sent  out.  only  Turner, 
Vansittart  and  Duncumbe  have  arrived.  Have  entertained  William 
Smyth  King,  John  Pybus,  and  Edmund  Maskelyne  as  monthly 
writers  at  10  Pags.  a  month  till  they  can  be  confirmed  by  the 
Company  in  their  former  standing.  Pybus  has  since  desired  leave 
to  go  to  Europe.  More  writers  needed.  Samuel  Parkes  has  gone 
to  Bengal  according  to  the  Company's  appointment.  John  Hally- 
burton  was  exchanged  and  arrived  here  in  October.  He  has  been 
particularly  useful  especially  in  the  first  French  attack,  when  he 
was  sent  to  the  Nawab's  camp  'to  signify  our  instructions  to  him.' 
Recommend  him  for  reward.  Most  of  the  Madras  garrison  that 
could  escape  have  come  in  ;  and  so  have  all  the  officers,  who  have 
been  continued  in  their  former  ranks.  As  the  Lieutenants  have 
behaved  well  in  our  two  actions  with  the  enemy,  recommend 
that  they  be  given  Captains'  commissions.  The  other  officers 
and  the  soldiers  have  been  rewarded  with  clothing.  Robert 
Clive  'being  of  a  martial  disposition'  and  having  acted  as  a 
volunteer  in  the  late  engagements,  has  been  made  Ensign.  The 
garrison,  always  too  small  for  the  defence  of  the  place,  is  now 
more  inadequate  than  ever,  for  the  French  can  send  out  1,000  Euro- 
peans at  any  time.  Need  also  '  an  experienced  head-officer.' 
Have  received  35  recruits.  For  lack  of  Europeons,  have  had  to 
entertain  about  3,000  peons ;  discharged  a  few  on  the  arrival  of  the 
Squadron.  Have  written  to  Bombay  for  200  or  300  Europeans  and 
600  Arabs.  Entertained  Francis  Fordyce  as  Chaplain  on  his  arrival 
from  Sumatra. 

All  the  books  and  papers  relating  to  Madras  being  in  the  hands 
of  the  French,  cannot  tell  what  may  have  been  owing  to  the 
Company  there;  but  will  question  the  conicoplies  who  are  now 
beginning  to  come  hither. 

The  French  have  behaved  with  great  inhumanity.  They  have 
refused  to  exchange  a  single  prisoner  with  the  Commodore,  and 
suddenly  drove  away  all  the  women  and  children  they  had  allowed 
to  reside  at  the  Mount,  plundering  them  and  burning  their  houses. 
They  are  busy  fortifying  the  White  Town  at  Madras  and  have 
almost  destroyed  the  Black.  Deserters  report  there  are  1,300 
Europeans  in  garrison  at  Pondichery  and  400  at  Madras,  besides 
many   peons   and  coffrees.     Cannot   at  present   make   any  attack 


CALENDAR  FOR  1746-1747  41 

upon  them,  but  as  soon    as  we  can  be  reinforced,  Griffin   will   do 

his  best  to  avenge  our  past  injuries. 

Griffin  arrived  March  2  with  His  Majesty's  ships  Princess  Mary, 
Medway,  Harwich,  Winchester,  Pearl,  Preston,  Medway's  Price  and 
Lively,  and  a  brigantine  fitted  as  afire-ship.  He  is  still  here.  One 
ship  is  off  Madras  to  prevent  the  Neptune  and  the  Princess  Amelia 
from  escaping  ;  others  are  stationed  off  Pondichery  and  to  the 
southward.  Griffin  is  every  way  worthy  of  his  command,  and 
only  needs  reinforcement  to  restore  the  Company's  affairs. 

Supplement'  The  Pearl  has  saved  the  Exeter  from  going  into 
Madras.  As  all  the  coral  books  are  lost,  cannot  exactly  specify  all 
details  of  the  coral  returns.  Have  received  from  Griffin  bills  for 
1,500  dollars  on  the  Navy  Victuallers  for  money  paid  out  of  the 
Company's  cash.  Have  drawn  bills  on  the  Company  for  100 
Pags.  Diamonds  registered  68,243  Pags.  At  Hinde's  death,  the 
Company's  cash  owed  him  1,839  Pags.,  as  no  gold  can  be  got  to 
coin  pagodas. 

Appended  are  : — (1)  register  of  diamonds;  and  (2)  list  of  the 
packet. 

Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the   Company. 

FORT  ST.  DAVID.    MAY  15,  1747.    [Public  Despatches  to  England, 

Vol.  16,  pp.  40-44  {Copy  tf/z  PP-)] 
This  despatch  sent  by  the  Lapwing  which  sails  vid  Sumatra 
with  200  bales  and  is  to  be  filled  up  with  pepper  there.  Send 
copy  of  report  by  a  Committee  of  officers  of  what  they  consider 
needful  f  for  the  defence  of  the  place.  William  Belsches 
(Agent  for  the  sick  and  wounded  of  the  Squadron)  has  delivered 
in  accounts,  attested  by  the  Commodore  for  the  time  being,  and 
amounting  to  2,984  Pags.  which  have  been  paid  him.  Have 
dismissed  Ensign  von  Francken  for  furnishing  LaBourdonnais 
with  a  plan  of  Madras  and  other  misdemeanours,  and  send  him  to 
Europe  on  the  Lapwing.     Diamonds  registered  3.275  Pags. 

Appended  are  : — (i)  register  of  diamonds  ;  and  (2)  list  of  the 
packet. 

DESPATCH  FROM  THE  COMPANY  TO  NICHOLAS  MORSE,  ETC. 
EAST  INDIA  HOUSE.  JULY  9,  1746.  [Public  Despatches  from 
England,  Vol.  49,  pp.  135-136  [Original  2  pp.)] 

Cite  despatch  of  June  12  [Wanting].  Shipping  news.  This 
sent  by  the  Bombay  Castle.  Purchase  of  coffee  at  Mocha.  Rev. 
Richard  Rider  entertained  as  joint-chaplain  at  Madras  with 
Fordyce. 

6 


42  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Nicholas  Morse,  etc. 
East  India  House.    August  15,  1746.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  49,  pp.  157-160  {Copy  lV2  pp.)] 
Cite  despatch  of  July  9.  Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  despatch 
dated  October  17,  1745.  This  goes  by  the  Norfolk,  bound  for 
Madras,  Sumatra,  etc  10  chests  of  treasure  are  to  be  put  aboard 
her  and  she  is  to  be  despatched  as  quickly  as  possible.*  Order 
contracts  to  be  made  with  Portuguese  at  Macao  for  the  purchase 
of  the  Bohea  teas  which  are  always  to  be  had  cheap  after  the 
Europe  shipping  has  left  Canton,  and  which  are  usually  carried  by 
junks  to  Batavia.  Several  large  ships  come  yearly  from  Macao  ; 
so  it  should  be  easy  to  arrange  this.  Since  the  English  tea  duties 
were  lowered,  the  consumption  of  the  cheaper  sorts  of  teas  has 
risen  to  above  1,000,000  lbs.  a  year.  Send  samples  of  what 
may  be  had  at  Batavia  at  19-25  Rix  Dollars  (=11-15  taels)  the 
pecul.  They  fetch  6-10  tael  per  pecul  at  Macao  after  the  Europe 
ships  have  gone.  May  give  10 — 14  Pags.  the  pecul  delivered  at 
Madras.  Ordinary  green  teas  may  be  bought  at  12-14  Pags. 
per  pecul  at  Madras.  The  lowest  and  cheapest  sort  is  mostly 
wanted,  provided  it  is  sweet,  the  flavour  mattering  little. 

Despatch  from  the  Company    to  Nicholas  morse,  etc. 
East  India  House.    November  14,  1746.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  49,  pp.  151-156  (Original  6  pp.)] 

Cite  despatch  of  August  1 5  by  the  Norfolk.  Arrival  of  ships. 
Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  despatches  dated  December  [23],  1745, 
and  January  31,  1746.  This  goes  by  the  Lapwing.  She  brings  25 
tons  of  lead,  50  chests  of  treasure,  and  a  recruit  of  soldiers.  She  is 
to  be  despatched  at  once  to  Sumatra  with  the  bales  on  hand  (and 
saltpetre  for  kintledge)  to  be  filled  up  there  with  pepper.  Of  1 5 
ships  taken  up,  6  are  designed  for  Madras  and  Bengal.  The  rate  of 
exchange  for  bills  on  the  Company  to  continue  as  last  year.  5,600 
bales  of  Coast  goods  received  are  very  welcome  ;  there  is  a  large 
demand  for  calicoes  Approve  the  projected  works  on  the  west 
front  of  Fort  St.  George  provided  the  backwater  can  be  carried 
off  so  as  to  avoid  damage  to  the  walls  ;  but  do  not  consider  new 
works  towards  the  sea  necessary.  Having  consulted  with  Benyon, 
doubt  the  advantage  of  making  the  proposed  moat,  owing  to  the 
looseness  of  the  soil  and  the  nature  of  the  country  ;  if  diverted  from 


*She  sailed  without  the  treasure  which  was  sent  on  the  Lapwiug     Vide  Secretary  Molt 
to  Morst,  etc.,  November  7,  1746  {India  Office  transcript.     Miscellanies,  Vol.  lO, /.  176.) 


CALENDAR  FOR  1746-1747  43 

its  present  course,  the  river  [Cooumj  will  soon  make  a  new  bed  for 
itself,  whereas  if  turned  into  the  moat,  there  would  be  danger  of 
its  undermining  the  walls  during  the  freshes  ;  till  now,  though  the 
walls  were  washed  yearly  by  the  floods,  they  were  little  hurl 
because  of  the  breadth  of  the  river-bed  ;  if  confined  within  narrow 
limits,  the  floods  would  be  much  more  destructive,  especially  as 
the  walls  are  to  be  built  on  the  very  edge  of  the  moat.  The  pro- 
posed small  canals  north  and  south  of  the  Town  are  far  too  small 
to  carry  off  the  flood-water;  moreover  in  the  south-west  monsoon 
they  would  be  choked  with  sand.  Either  the  river  should  be 
allowed  to  skirt  the  walls  with  no  artificial  bank  on  the  other  side, 
or  it  should  be  diverted  to  a  considerable  distance  from  the  moat. 
As  regards  the  sea-front  Benyon  says  that  the  foundations  of  the 
present  walls  are  often  exposed  in  spring-tides  or  in  hard  northerly 
gales;  building  new  walls  nearer  the  sea  must  evidently  then  be 
dangerous  ;  besides,  he  asserts  that  having  sounded  the  roads,  he 
ascertained  that  though  ships  could  come  near  enough  to  throw 
shot  into  the  Fort,  they  could  not  batter  in  breach,  both  on  account 
of  the  distance  and  the  swell ;  and  even  if  they  could  breach  the 
sea-wall,  they  could  hardly  land  troops  in  the  face  of  the  least 
resistance,  owing  to  the  surf.  Send  samples  of  tea  to  be  purchased 
and  to  be  avoided.  Have  lent  the  Captain  of  the  Lapwing  £l,000 
on  respondentia. 

Despatch  from   the  Company  to   Nicholas  Morse,  etc. 
East  India  House.    January  16, 1747.     [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  50,  pp.  3-4  ( Original  2  pp.j] 

Cite  despatch  of  November  14,  1746.  Acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  despatch,  dated  February  7,  1746.  This  goes  by  the  Prince  of 
Wales  and  Stafford,  which  are  to  be  sent  on  to  China  with  30  chests 
of  treasure  each.  In  case  the  Canton  supercargoes  have  too  much 
tonnage,  they  will  lade  the  surplus  ships  with  tutenague,  sugar, 
etc.,  for  the  Madras  market.  Money  may  be  received  for  bills  on 
the  Company  on  account  of  Thomas  Braddyll  or  William  Davis. 
Since  writing  the  above,  it  has  been  decided  to  send  the  ships 
direct  to  China. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Nicholas  Morse,  etc. 
East  India  House.    February  18, 1747.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  50,  pp.  5-6  (Original  2  pp.)] 
Cite   despatch   of   January    16.     Have  taken  up    3     ships    for 
Madras  and  Bengal.     This  goes  by  the  Oxford.     She  brings  80  tons 


44  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

of  iron,  30  chests  of  treasure  and  100  pipes  of  Madeira  consigned 
to  Madras.  The  Winchelsea,  Colchester  and  Benjamin  carry  large 
supplies  of  naval  stores  for  the  Squadron.  Stringer  Lawrence 
entertained  as  Major  on  the  same  terms  as  Major  Knipe,  i.e.,  £  250 
with  one  of  the  companies.  James  Cope,  William  Keene,  Lawrence 
Donaldson,  Edmund  Pascall,  and  John  Brooke  appointed  Ensigns. 
In  future  there  are  to  be  2  Ensigns  to  each  company  at  Madras 
and  Fort  St.  David.  These  officers'  pay  will  commence  from  their 
arrival.  The  Major  is  allowed  diet  money  as  one  of  Council  (10 
Pags.  a  month)  ;  and  Lieutenants  as  Factors  (8  Pags.).  In  future 
the  Major  and  Lieutenants  are  to  have  the  clothing  of  their 
companies  instead  of  the  Paymaster.  Lieutenant  John  Hollond  is 
transferred  to  Bengal.  All  spare  money  must  be  forwarded  to 
Bengal. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Nicholas  Morse,  etc. 
East  India  House.    April  15, 1747.     [Public  Dispatches  from 

England,  Vol.  49,  pp.  183  (Original  I  p.)\ 

Announce  the  appointment  of  Harry  Gough,  Richard  Chauncy, 
Alexander  Hume  and  William  Mabbot  as  the  Secret  Committee 
for  the  coming  year. 


THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES,  1747-1748. 


DESPATCH  FROM  CHARLES  FLOYER,  ETC.,  TO  THE  COMPANY. 
FORT  ST.  DAVID.  AUGUST  19,  1747.  [Public  Despatches  to 
■  England,  Vol.  16.  pp.  45^  5°  (Copy  6  pp.)] 

On  May  28,  the  Severn,  Warwick,  and  Ilchcstcr  arrived  from 
Bombay  together  with  the  Princess  Augusta  lately  ransomed. 
Are  now  despatching  the  Severn  for  Europe.  Received  by  these 
vessels  from  Bombay  370  soldiers  and  some  large  cannon  ;  but  the 
men  included  only  70  Europeans.  A  month  ago  225  '  sepoys  ' 
arrived  from  Tellicherry  overland.  Even  now  have  but  300  able- 
bodied  Europeans  in  garrison  ;  and  the  French  are  resolved  to 
attack  as  soon  as  Griffin  leaves  the  Coast,  for  if  Fort  St.  David 
is  still  in  English  hands  next  January,  Pondichery  will  then  pro- 
bably be  taken  and  Madras  recovered.  Send  a  plan  of  the  Fort  and 
the  new  works.  At  a  Council  of  War  held  on  July  19  it  was  resolved 
to  build  a  battery  at  the  Burying  ground  and  'fortify  the  points  ' 
in  Devanampattanam.  It  was  also  decided  'to  clear'  all  Deva- 
nampattanam,  the  remainder  of  the  Colloway,  and  the  houses 
about  the  Washing-town,  as  well  as  to  level  the  banks  of  the 
tank  there.  On  Griffin's  recommendation  have  appointed  George 
Gibson  (Captain  of  Marines  aboard  the  flagship),  Captain-Comman- 
dant of  the  garrison.  Have  appointed  several  of  the  Madras 
writers  Ensigns,  and  nominated  George  Jones  to  regulate  the  Train, 
the  officers  in  which  will  receive  commissions.  The  season  ap- 
proaching when  the  Squadron  must  leave  the  Coast,  have  repre- 
sented the  weakness  of  our  position  to  Griffin. 

Have  been  able  to  do  but  little  towards  an  investment  for  lack 
of  money  ;  and  in  any  case  have  no  proper  places  for  bleaching 
cloth.  With  the  remains  from  last  year,  have  800  bales,  white 
and  brown,  which  will  be  forwarded  to  Bengal  if  the  Coast  is 
reported  clear.  The  investment  at  the  Northern  factories  has 
suffered  by  a  ship  with  a  large  amount  of  money  for  them  having 
overshot  her  port  and  proceeded  (it  is  thought)  to  Bengal.  Have 
been  unable  to  send  money  to  Bengal  (in  spite  of  their  importunacy), 
owing  to  the  heavy  charges  of  our  garrison  and  works. 

The  Swift  Snow  arrived  from  England  on  June  18,  and  the 
Bombay  Castle  on  August  I.     The  Captain  of  the   Houghton    alleges 


46  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

.  as  excuse  for  deserting  Fort  St.  David  in  1746  that  he  suspected 
the  French  had  taken  the  place  and  that  Hinde's  letters  were  coun- 
terfeit. Placed  the  Warwick  and  Ilchester  under  Griffin's  orders,  as 
there  was  no  other  employment  for  them,  and  as  the  French  are 
known  to  have  a  large  sea-force  ;  the  Warwick  has  since  been 
returned  to  the  Company's  service. 

Bills  drawn  on  the  Company  for  600  Pags.  ;  diamonds  registered 
12,980  Pags. 

Appended  are:— (1)  register  of  diamonds;  and  (2)  list  of  the 
packets. 

Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  David.  September  26  and  27,  1747.  [Public 
Despatches  to  En  gland,  Vol.  1 6,  pp.  51-53  (Copy  3  pp.)] 

Have  despatched  485  bales  by  the  Princess  Augusta  to  Sumatra 
and  411  by  the  Warwick  to  Bengal.  The  latter  sailed  under  com- 
mand of  Ward,  the  Chief  Mate,  as  Captain  Misenor  was  very  ill  and 
died  on  September  13.  The  Ilchester  and  the  Bombay  Castle  are 
serving  with  the  Squadron  ;  the  former  will  shortly  be  discharged. 
Shipping  news.  Fort  William  report  they  are  sending  men  and 
stores  by  the  Princess  of  Wales,  but  she  has  not  yet  arrived  though 
2  ships  have  arrived  thence  with  rice.  La  Bourdonnais  is 
reported  to  have  sailed  for  Europe  with  5  ships.  The  Company's 
late  ship  Princess  Mary  has  been  lost  at  Gogo,  but  most  of  her  crew 
were  saved.  No  outward-bound  ships  have  put  in  here.  When 
Nasir  Jang  came  southward,  a  vakil  was  sent  to  procure  the  assist- 
ance of  some  troops.  Hope  to  succeed  in  this,  as,  though  expensive, 
it  is  the  only  way  to  secure  the  Fort. 

Postcript  :  News  from  Vizagapatam  that  the  Oxford  put  in 
there  August  29,  having  been  warned  by  a  catamaran  off  St.  Thome 
of  the  capture  of  Madras.  The  packet,  recruits  and  50  pipes  of 
Madeira  have  been  landed  at  Vizagapatam  to  be  forwarded  hither 
by  the  Princess  of  Wales.  The  Fanny  (which  brought  the  above 
news)  in  passing  Madras  saw  the  whole  of  the  Squadron  there  and 
the  Neptune  in  a  blaze. 

Appended  is  a  letter  to  the  English  Consul  at  Copenhagen  desir- 
ing him  to  forward  the  packet  to  England. 

* 

Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,   etc.,  to  the  Company. 

Fort  St.  David.    February  13,  1748.    [Public  Despatches  to 

England,  Vol.  16,  pp.  54-91  (Copy  uYi  PP-)     Damaged.] 

This  goes  by  the  Warwick  from  Bengal,  ordered  to  call  in  here 

for  despatches.     The  Anson   was  captured  on  September  2,  by  two 

/ 


CALENDAR  FOR  1747-1748  47 

French  privateers  the  Apollo  and  Anglesea,  just  as  she  was  going 
into  Bombay  ;  she  defended  herself  for  two  hours  and  a  half;  and 
her  treasure  and  packets  were  saved  by  a  boat  that  put  aboard  her 
and  carried  them  into  Bombay.  Other  shipping  news.  The  War- 
wick and  flchester,  having  been  discharged  from  the  Squadron,  have 
been  sent,  the  former  with  our  remaining  bales  to  Bengal  and  the 
latter  to  Anjengo.  Expect  the  Princess  Augusta  with  a  cargo  of 
timber  from  Batavia.  The  Brilliant  is  on  a  secret  cruize  under 
Griffin's  orders.  Received  on  December  30  the  Company's  letter 
of  April  15,  1747,  by  the  George  snow.  Unfortunately  the  weather 
did  not  allow  Griffin  to  burn  the  Princess  Amelia  as  well  as  the 
Neptune.  She  was  run  ashore,  but  got  off  again,  came  to  Pondi- 
chery,  laded  1,200  bales  of  white  and  blue  cloth,  and  slipped  off 
it  is  believed  for  the  Islands.  Griffin  remained  at  sea  through  the 
monsoon,  and  came  into  the  roads  on  November  II,  with  His 
Majesty's  ships  Princess  Mary,  Medway  and  Pearl.  So  many  sick 
had  to  be  landed  out  of  the  two  last  that  Griffin  had  to  apply  for  a 
detachment  of  men  from  the  garrison.  The  Bombay  Castle  was  again 
placed  under  him.  The  Oxford  arrived  here  from  the  Bay  January 
15,  will  be  sent  with  stores  to  Sumatra  and  bring  back  arrack, 
lower-masts,  and  anchors  from  Batavia  for  the  Squadron.  Have 
received  the  Company's  despatches  of  January  16  and  February  18, 
1747  by  the  Winchelsea,  Colchester  and  Benjamin,  which  arrived  here 
fromBalasore  under  escort  of  His  Majesty's  ships  Exeter,  York  and 
Eltham.  The  Company's  despatch  of  June  6,  1746,  was  received 
by  the  Princess  of  Wales.  The  Exeter  has  also  arrived  and  with  the 
Winchelsea  and  Benjamin  has  been  ordered  under  Griffin.  The 
Colchester  has  been  returned  to  Bengal  with  orders  to  land  treasure 
and  stores  at  Vizagapatam.  Hope  for  speedy  arrival  of  the  rein- 
forcements news  of  which  has  come  via  Basra  and  Bombay. 

Of  the  copper,  pitch  and  tar  sent  out  by  the  Norfolk  and  received 
by  the  Bombay  Castle,  61  candies  of  copper  have  been  sold  here 
and  the  rest  sent  to  Bengal  ;  the  pitch  and  tar  will  be  needed  for 
the  use  of  the  Squadron.  [2  pp.  apparently  missing  hoe.]  400  tons 
of  redwood  are  ready  at  Durgarayapatnam  to  be  sent  to  Bengal, 
but  hitherto  a  conveyance  has  been  wanting.  Of  the  100  pipes  of 
Madeira  consigned  to  the  Coast,  8  have  been  detained  at  Vizaga- 
patam and  72  received  here;  it  has  been  selling  at  50  Pags.  a 
pipe.  Broadcloth  forwarded  from  here  to  Bengal  proved  damaged  ; 
believe  it  must  have  been  damaged  in  England. 

Were  unable  to  bleach  the  bales  sent  to  Bengal  owing  to  the 
alarms  of  the  French  ;  have  22  bales  on  hand.     On  May  II,  1747, 


48  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

considered  the  investment  and  summoned  the  merchants.  As 
cotton  was  cheap  and  the  demand  from  our  enemies  small,  secured 
a  reduction  of  price,  and  finally  agreed  with  An-diyappa's  set  of 
merchants  to  provide  as  much  cloth  as  we  could  advance  them  for  ; 
but  afterwards,  as  no  ships  arrived,  were  obliged  to  desist  from 
making  further  advances,  though  there  was  prospect  of  a  singu- 
larly good  investment.  Probably  shall  be  able  to  do  nothing  more 
<  till  the  heat  of  war  is  abated  ' ;  shall  therefore  demand  the  return 
of  their  balances  from  Andiyappa's  set.  The  balances  from  the 
'old  set '  have  already  been  demanded  ;  but  as  the  larger  part  is 
due  from  Mutyalu  who  is  now  negotiating  with  Nasir  Jang,  they 
have  not  yet  been  recovered.  The  Northern  factories  have  been 
able  to  provide  nothing  owing  to  lack  of  the  money  sent  by  the 
Jenny  which  failed  to  make  them  ;  sjnce  then  have  been  able 
to  send  only  Rs.  20,000  for  their  current  expenses,  but  have 
requested  Fort  William  to  send  them  supplies.  Do  not  know  how 
many  bales  they  have  sent  to  Bengal.  10  bales  of  the  Ingeram 
1746  investment,  damaged  by  the  leakiness  of  the  ship,  were  accept- 
ed on  the  Company's  account  as  Council  was  sure  Saunders  had 
provided  the  best  vessel  he  could.  Have  much  torn  and  damaged 
cloth  on  hand  ;  hoping  the  ship's  Captains  would  be  purchasers, 
it  was  resolved  to  sell  this  at  outcry  in  August  last  ;  but  the  ships 
leaving  suddenly,  the  sale  has  been  deferred  till  now.  Venkata- 
raman  has  written  for  the  repayment  of  his  fine,  according  to  the 
Company's  orders  ;  but  as  it  is  not  known  what  he  may  owe  the 
Company,  nothing  will  be  done  until  he  comes  here. 

When  Nasir  Jang  was  about  15  days'  journey  distant,  sent 
him  a  Vakil  to  procure  a  safe  conduct  (as  the  roads  were 
infested  by  French  peons)  for  the  two  ambassadors  it  was  then 
intended  to  send,  and  to  pave  the  way  towards  obtaining  10,000 
horse  to  protect  the  Fort  during  the  monsoon.  Nasir  Jang  did 
not  come  to  Arcot  as  was  expected,  but  withdrew,  delayed  coming 
to  an  agreement  and  would  not  send  '  a  convoy'  for  the  ambas- 
sadors. At  last  in  November  the  Vakil  made  an  agreement  to 
pay  3  lakhs  of  rupees  for  the  10,000  horse;  soon  after  how- 
ever Nasir  Jang  demanded  10  lakhs  instead,  which  was  afterwards 
reduced  to  5  ;  but  that  was  declined  as  he  insisted  on  part 
being  paid  in  advance  and  as  we  were  bare  of  money.  Nasir*  \ky 
Jang  was  then  summoned  to  join  his  father  and  dismissed  thev  VR 
Vakil  handsomely.  The  last  letter  from  the  Vakil  announces 
that  he  has  hired  300  good  horse  and  will  soon  be  back  here.  This 
expedition  has  been  much  cheaper  than  sending  two  ambassadors. 
Beawes  and  Captain  Crompton  (who  were  to  have  gone)  have  been 


V 


CALENDAR   FOR    1747-1748  49 

compensated  for  their  expenses  in  preparation,  etc.  The  chief 
reason  for  applying  to  the  Nizam  for  help  was  the  little  reliance 
that  can  be  placed  on  the  Arcot  Government.  The  Marathas  arc 
reported  from  Arcot  to  be  within  a  few  days'  journey.  Dupleix  has 
applied  to  the  Nawab  to  mediate  between  the  French  and  English. 

The  ditch  round  the  Fort  is  completed  ;  the  horn-work  is  as  high 
as  the  turning  of  the  arches  for  the  caserns  ;  and  the  lunette  to  the 
west  is  progressing  under  the  direction  of  George  Jones  and 
his  assistants.  The  rest  of  the  houses  in  Devanampattanam  and 
the  Colloway  have  been  pulled  down  as  the  clearance  to  the  800- 
yard  limit  left  but  a  few.  Owing  to  shortness  of  money  have  not 
paid  for  Croke's,  Captain  deMorgan's  and  other  houses  that 
have  been  destroyed.  Besides  the  new  battery  at  the  Burying 
ground  and  the  strengthening  of  the  Devanampattanam  points, 
have  erected  fascine  batteries  on  the  beach  east  of  Devanampatta- 
nam and  'along  the  lines  from  the  Burying  ground'.  Another 
fascine  battery  has  been  raised  at  the  south-west  corner  of  the  Fort 
andarmed  with  the  heavy  guns  from  Bombay,  as  that  part  of  the  Fort 
was  not  able  to  bear  them.  Are  taking  all  possible  care  to  execute 
the  works  with  economy,  but  for  want  of  skilled  engineers  are 
liable  to  raise  works  that  may  not  be  really  necessary.  Have 
bought  a  house  at  Porto  Novo  for  the  Resident  there,  as  the 
Company's  factory  is  quite  ruined.  Have  had  to  make  many  sheds 
and  guard-rooms  for  the  garrison  and  peons,  which,  with  the 
demolition  of  the  houses,  has  been  very  expensive. 

The  Cuddalore  Sea  customs  have  increased  1,201  Pags.  owing 
to  the  importation  of  raw  silk,  etc.  ;  the  Cuddalore  Land  customs  are 
decreased  607  Pags.  owing  to  the  suspension  of  grain-duties 
in  the  late  scarcity  ;  the  Devanampattanam  Sea  and  Land  customs 
have  increased  1,954  Pags.  owing  to  the  importation  of  coral 
and  raw  silk. 

The  general  table  for  the  Madras  junior  servants  has  been 
taken  off.  as  some  have  gone  away  and  others  been  entertained. 
William  Read  arrived  by  the  Bombay  Castle  and  has  been  entertain- 
ed as  directed.  William  Rider,  who  was  coming  out  as  Chaplain 
at  Madras,  remained  in  Sumatra  on  hearing  of  the  loss  of  that 
settlement.  Being  in  great  need  of  officers,  have  appointed  as 
Ensigns  Philip  Bulkeley,  Edmund  Maskelyne,  John  Duncumbe, 
John  Wright,  Samuel  Smith,  John  Harding  and  Joshua  Cheese- 
borough.  The  first  two  were  Madras  servants  who  have  accepted 
commissions  till  the  Company's  pleasure  is  known  ;  the  third 
7 


50  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

is  a  servant  here  who   has  been   promised  that  he  shall  lose  no 
standing  by  accepting  one. 

Morse  and  Percival  have  been  exchanged  for  Leyrit,  Chief  of 
Mahe,  and  Le  Riche,  Chief  of  Karikal,  who  were  caught  and 
brought  here  as  prisoners  of  war.  Morse  arrived  here  August  2  and 
has  made  himself  very  useful.  Eyre  and  Harris  are  at  Tranque- 
bar  and  Savage  here  ;  Edward  Fowke  sails  for  Europe  by  this  ship. 
Have  appointed  Residents — Charles  Nicholls  at  Negapatam, 
Henry  Cope  at  Porto  Novo,  and  Alexander  Baird  at  Pulicat — to 
get  early  intelligence  of  any  French  ships  on  the  Coast. 

Major  Stringer  Lawrence  arrived  on  the  Winchelsea  January  13, 
and  was  given  his  commission  at  the  head  of  the  garrison  on  the 
18th.  The  Ensigns  who  accompanied  him  have  arrived.  Captain 
George  Gibson  has  been  thanked  for  his  good  services.  Have 
received  98  recruits  excluding  II  detained  at  Vizagapatam. 
Lieutenant  John  Hollond,  being  transferred  to  Bengal  by  the 
Company,  has  resigned  his  company,  but  is  remaining  as  a  super- 
numerary in  the  hope  of  taking  part  in  the  expected  fighting.  Are 
sending  the  rolls  of  the  garrison  and  desire  a  further  reinforcement. 
Found  it  necessary  to  introduce  martial  law  into  this  garrison,  and 
have  commissioned  Major  Lawrence  to  sit  as  President  and  Ensign 
James  Cope  to  act  as  Judge  Advocate.  Have  formed  the  gun-room 
crew  into  an  Artillery  company  under  Lieutenant  George  Jones 
and  several  Ensigns.  Have  received  113  Europeans  from  Bengal. 
The  officers  of  this  and  the  Bombay  detachment  are  allowed  a  table 
as  is  usual  when  'on  command.'  Charles  Bourchier  has  been 
appointed  Secretary  vice  Thomas  Cooke,  junior.  The  Madras 
conicoplies  have  been  unable  to  give  any  information  about  the 
accounts  there. 

Sumatra  affairs. 

On  August  19,  applied  to  Galenus  Mersen,  Governor  of  Nega- 
patam, for  leave  to  pull  down  the  compound  walls  of  the  Dutch 
factory  at  Devanampattanam,  700  yards  from  the  Fort;  but  he 
declined.  The  2^2  %  customs  the  Dutch  pay  on  their  exports  and 
imports  by  no  means  compensates  the  inconvenience  of  having  a 
foreign  power  settled  so  near  an  English  fort.  The  French 
garrisons  are  1,300  Europeans  at  Pondichery,  400  at  Madras,  and 
100  at  Karikal,  besides  topasses,  coffrees  and  sepoys 'who  are 
disciplined  and  are  of  great  service  to  trfem.' 

On  a  rumour  of  some  accident  befalling  our  Squadron  at  Trin- 
comalee,  the  French  prepared  another  attack.  Timely  notice  was 
received,  and  dispositions  were  made   for  defence  at  a  Council  of 


CALENDAR   FOR    1747-1748  5 1 

War  held  December  25.  On  January  6,  Dupleix  in  person  led  out 
all  the  forces  he  could  collect  and  camped  4  miles  away.  It 
was  moon-light  and  an  attack  on  our  out-towns  was  expected  that 
night.  As  they  were  preparing  for  it  next  morning,  Griffin  arrived 
with  4  ships,  on  which  a  signal  was  given  from  Pondichery  and 
the  French  withdrew.  Only  2  French  ships  supposed  to  be  the 
privateers,  are  reported  on  the  Malabar  coast.  A  French  ship,  the 
Cibele,  reached  Pondichery  on  January  4  and  sailed  again  in  4 
days.  She  brought  news  of  the  French  fleet  designed  for  India,  the 
defeat  of  which  by  Anson  is  reported  from  Bombay.  Immediately 
afterwards  Dupleix  applied  to  the  Nawab  for  his  mediation  and  is 
now  preparing  for  defence. 

Rosewell,  late  Agent  Victualler  of  the  Squadron,  left   suddenly 
for  Bengal  June  15,  1747  and  has   since  sent  accounts  relating   to 
victuals  supplied  at  Madras  in  1746-     Desired   Bengal  to  send  him 
hither,  as  Peyton  said  nothing  could  be  done  without  his  presence. 
Rosewell    has  replied  [  ?  objecting].     Will  discuss  the  matter  with 
Peyton    and  Morse.     Send    vouchers  for  4,261    Pags.     supplied  to 
our  Surgeon  for  His   Majesty's  hospital   from  March  2,   1747,  and 
bills  on  the  Admiralty  for  1,500  dollars   supplied   to  the  Squadron. 
Griffin   is   in   the   road  with    His   Majesty's   ships  Princess  Mary, 
Preston,  Pearl  and  Eltham,  and  Company's  ships     Bombay  Castle, 
Winchelsea   and   Exeter.     Cannot   overpraise  Griffin's  services    in 
keeping    the    sea  all    through   the    monsoon.     He    sailed    north 
September  28    and  returned  October  18  ;  the   wind  being   fresh 
he   did   not  anchor,  but  put    to  sea   returning  November  II,  with 
the  Medway  and   Pearl,    having    lost   company   with    the   rest   of 
the    Squadron  ;    he    sailed    on  November    16,    returning   on    the 
26th,   when   he  left  the  Medway  as  a  guard-ship   and    sailed    to 
rejoin  the  Squadron.     On  December  4,  the  Fogo,   fireship,   arrived 
from  Vizagapatam  ;  but  the  sea  being  high,  she  parted  her  cables, 
and  that  night  the  Medway  also  was  driven  out  of  the  road.     The 
Fogo  drove  ashore  on  the  7th  but  all  her  crew  were  saved.     On 
the    Medway' s   reaching    Trincomalee,    Griffin    at   once   sent   the 
Harwich  which    arrived    here   January   2.     Ever  since  Griffin   has 
been  in  India,  he  has  done  his  very  best  in  the  Company's  defence. 
Supplement  :    Have   detained    the    Warwick    4    or    5    days    in 
order     to    complete  the    packet,    though     her    charterparty  time 
expired  January  31.     Diamonds,  etc.,  registered  117,244  Pags. 

Appended  are  : — (i)  sailing  orders  for  the  Warwick  ;  (2)  register 
of  diamonds,  etc.  ;  (3)  list  of  sundries  permitted  to  be  shipped  as 
presents;  and  (4)  list  of  the  packet. 


52  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

DESPATCH  FROM  CHARLES  FLOYER,  ETC.,  TO  THE  COMPANY. 
FORT  St.  DAVID.  APRIL  25,  1748.  [Public  Despatches  to  Eng- 
land, Vol.  1 6,  pp.  91  IOI  {Copy  lOl/2  pp.)  Damaged.] 
The  Porto  Bello,  Prince  William  and  True  Briton  arrived  March  30, 
and  the  Swallow  snow  on  April  II.  Major  Stringer  Lawrence 
has  taken  his  seat  as  Third  of  Council.  The  Company  says  he 
is  to  draw  the  same  pay,  etc,  as  Major  Knipe  ;  but  as  it  is  not 
known  what  that  was,  have  fixed  his  salary  as  Major  at  £300, 
with  allowances  of  50  Pags.  a  month,  and  with  £70  a  year  as 
Third  of  Council.  He  is  showing  great  activity  and  the  garrison 
has  improved  more  than  could  have  been  expected  in  so  short  a 
time.  Of  the  Madras  servants,  have  entertained  Matthew  Empson, 
William  Smyth  King,  Hugh  Morris  and  John  Trenwith,  with  the 
same  standing  as  they  had  at  Madras,  allowing  them  to  count  as 
service  the  time  between  the  capture  of  Madras  and  their  re- 
entertainment,  without  which  they  would  not  have  rejoined. 
Have  promised  the  same  to  Clive,  Maskelyne  and  Bulkeley, 
now  serving  as  Ensigns.  The  other  Madras  servants  here  have 
refused  to  rejoin  at  present. 

The  merchants  have  promised  about  3,000  bales  by  September, 
provided  they  receive  sufficient  advances.  Hope  to  have  bales 
enough  for  2  ships  ;  but  as  there  is  no  beating-godown  and  but 
few  washers,  may  not  be  able  to  cure  them  all.  Have  despatched 
the  Prince  William  and  True  Briton  to  Bengal  with  40  chests  of 
rupees.  The  latter  also  carried  money  and  stores  for  the  Northern 
factories.  Our  Vakil  returned  from  Nasir  Jang  March  18.  He 
succeeded  in  getting  rid  of  the  Pathan  horse  he  had  contracted  for, 
and  brought  friendly  letters  from  Nasir  Jang  and  others  and 
farmans  to  the  various  officers  of  the  province  to  assist  the  English. 
Believe  the  country  wishes  well  to  us,  as  the  fall  of  Madras  has  been 
succeeded  by  a  great  stagnation  of  trade.  The  expense  of  the 
expedition  has  been  small  considering  Nasir  Jang's  rank. 

Jackson  died  here  March  20,  and  Sidney  Foxall  April  4.  The 
death  of  the  latter  is  the  more  unlucky  as  no  one  has  the  least 
knowledge  of  assaying,  and  the  Mint  shroffs  must  be  implicitly 
trusted  for  the  fineness  of  the  pagodas.  Hope  an  Assay-master 
and  Assistant  may  be  sent  out.  The  Mint  is  at  present  under  the 
inspection  of  William  Holt  who  lives  in  Cuddalore. 

As  the  French  have  a  troop  of  horse  which  have  been  making 
raids  near  the  Bounds,  have  been  obliged  to  raise  one  also,  on 
Lawrence's  advice.  Lieutenant  Gingins  and  Hallyburton  have 
been   appointed   Lieutenants   and    Ensign  Cheeseborough  Cornet. 


CALENDAR   FOR    1747-1748  53 

Have  only  been  able  to  provide  horses,  etc.,  for  30,  but  hope  shortly 
to  raise  it  to  100. 

Desire  copies  of  the  last  books  sent  home  from  Madras  and  of 
such  other  books  and  papers  as  the  Company  considers  necessary. 
The  Madras  conicoplies  left  their  palm-leaf  accounts  behind  them 
when  they  left  the  place.  No  covenanted  servant  here  thinking 
himself  qualified  to  act  as  Sub-Accountant,  have  appointed  Charles 
Hopkins  who  kept  the  Madras  accounts  latterly,  and  have  nominat- 
ed him  a  factor  as  he  was  not  willing  otherwise  to  accept  the  post. 

Some  chintz  saved  from  Madras  is  now  being  finished  ;  and 
Coja  Mirza  has  furnished  dyed  Masulipatam  goods  for  the  provision 
of  which  he  had  received  an  advance  from  Madras.  The  Fort  St. 
David  merchants  after  much  pressing  are  about  to  pay  off  one-third 
of  their  old  balances  and  promise  the  remainder  in  3  months  ; 
these  terms  have  been  accepted  as  they  are  engaged  in  this  year's 
investment.  Send  a  list  of  certain  bonds  granted  by  Morse,  etc., 
at  Madras  ;  but  the  list  is  believed  to  be  incomplete.  John  Gray, 
formerly  Master-Carpenter  at  Madras,  has  petitioned,  stating  that, 
when  the  French  Squadron  arrived  off  the  Coast,  he  was  ordereci  to 
make  a  great  number  of  gun-carriages,  but  that,  being  unable  to 
get  an  advance  from  Council,  he  borrowed  money  from  various  in- 
habitants, who  are  now  demanding  repayment.  He  bore  a  good 
character  at  Madras  and  has  been  diligent  and  useful  here.  Peter 
Dencker  has  also  petitioned  for  payment  for  provisions  supplied 
to  the  garrison  at  Madras  from  August  18  to  September  7,  1746. 

The  Governor,  etc.,  of  Negapatamhave  written  announcing  that 
they  have  received  orders  to  do  all  possible  damage  to  the  French 
by  land  and  sea. 

The  diamonds,  etc.,  registered  amount  to  2,500  Pags. 

Appended  are  : — (i)  register  of  diamonds ;  (2)  list  of  13  bonds 
granted  by  the  Governor,  etc.,  of  Madras  amounting  to  103,048 
Pags.  ;  and  (3)  list  of  the  packet. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  John  Hinde,  etc.   East 

INDIA  HOUSE.  JULY  24,  1747.  [Public  Despatches  from  England, 
Vol.  51,  pp.  47-49  (Original  3  pp.)] 
Acknowledge  the  receipt  on  April  20  of  the  despatch  dated 
October  17,  1746.  Letters  overland  from  Bombay  announce  the 
repulse  of  the  French  before  Fort  St.  David.  Constitute  Fort 
St.  David  the  head-settlement,  and  appoint  John  Hinde,  President 
and  Governor  of  all  the  Company's  settlements  on  the  Coro- 
mandel,  Orissa  and  Sumatra  coasts,  with  Edward  Croke,  Stringer 


54  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Lawrence,  Charles  Floyer,  William  Holt,  Alexander  Wynch  and 
Thomas  Cooke  Junior  as  Council.  Lawrence  and  the  officers  who 
accompanied  him  must  act  in  the  Fort  St.  David  garrison.  Enclose 
copy  of  a  resolution  of  a  General  Court,  and  forbid  any  treaty  to 
be  made  with  any  country  or  other  power  for  the  ransom  of  Madras. 
In  case  the  Nawab  should  restore  Madras  to  the  English,  all 
effects  are  to  be  removed  to  Fort  St.  David  and  bare  possession  kept 
of  Madras.  The  service  of  the  Madras  servants  was  terminated 
by  the  capture  of  the  place ;  but  those  judged  suitable  may  be  re- 
admitted and  the  rest  may  be  allowed  a  reasonable  subsistence. 
Sanction  such  expense  as  may  be  necessary  to  fortify  and  secure 
Fort  St.  David.     Hinde  may  nominate  a  provisional  successor. 

Enclose  a  list  of  the  investment;  the  Madras  merchants  should 
be  encouraged  as  much  as  possible  to  come  and  perform  their  con- 
tracts at  Fort  St.  David.  The  Porto  Bello  should  be  returned  to 
England  at  once  with  all  the  fine  goods  on  hand.  Have  ordered 
the  other  presidencies  to  carry  on  a  friendly  correspondence  with 
Fort  St.  David  and  concert  proper  measures  for  the  Company's 
security.  Fordyce  and  Rider  (appointed  Chaplains  at  Madras)  are 
to  be  entertained  at  Fort  St.  David  on  the  usual  terms.  The  new 
President  and  Council  are  to  receive  the  salaries  and  allowances 
that  were  given  at  Madras.  Bills  may  be  drawn,  for  money  paid 
into  cash,  at  90  days'  sight  at  85.  the  pagoda  for  Company's  servants 
or  in  return  for  coral  sent  for  Europe,  and  at  7s.  Sd.  for  all  other 
persons  and  accounts.  Lawrence,  though  of  Council,  is  not  to  be 
embarrassed  with  any  affairs  other  than  the  care  of  the  military. 
A  clear  statement  is  required  of  all  demands  due  for  money  bor- 
rowed at  Madras;  no  payments  of  such  are  to  be  made  till  further 
orders. 

Despatch   from  the  Company  to  John  Hinde,  etc.   East 
India    House.    October  16,    1747.    [Public  Despatches  from 

England,  Vol  $1,  pp.  51-53  (Original  3  pp.)] 

Overland  news  from  Bombay  has  reported  '  your  gallant  brave 
defence  '  against  the  French  till  Griffin's  arrival  in  March. 
Highly  approve  Captain  Sumner's  conduct  in  bringing  the 
Britannia  to  Fort  St.  David.  This  supply  of  money  and  goods 
must  have  been  exceedingly  welcome.  Have  taken  up  2  more 
ships  since  the  last  despatch.  '  On  our  strenuous  application  '  the 
King  is  sending  a  strong  Squadron  under  Rear-Admiral  Boscawen, 
under  whose  orders  the  Company's  shipping  is  now  sent.  When 
the  Admiral  has  no  more  need  of  them,  they  will  pass  under  the 
Council's  authority. 


I 


CALENDAR   FOR    1 747-1748  55 

As  soon  as  possible  4  ships,  with  lead  on  board,  10  chests  of 
treasure  each,  and  such  suitable  goods  as  may  be  available,  are  to 
be  despatched  to  China,  consigned  to  the  supercargoes  at  Canton, 
or,  if  there  should  be  none  there  by  the  20th  of  October  to  the 
Captains  acting  in  council  with  the  linguist  James  Flint  who  con- 
stantly resides  there.  All  surplus  treasure  to  be  sent  to  Bengal, 
and  the  shipping  disposed  of  to  the  best  advantage.  The  ships 
bring  out  more  cannon  than  required  by  the  charterparties ;  all 
such  surplus  cannon  are  to  be  delivered  to  the  Council  with  their 
carriages,  shot,  etc.,  and  also  '  the  Orlopes  on  board  '  in  case  they 
are  not  taken  by  the  Admiral.  In  case  Boscawen  requires  assist- 
ance against  the  French,  all  the  Company's  forces  that  can  be 
spared  are  to  be  put  under  his  command. 

Shall  send  perpetuanoes  to  Portsmouth  in  hopes  of  their  arriving 
in  time  to  be  laded.  £1,500  worth  of  foreign  silver  to  be  deli- 
vered to  Captain  James  dimming  of  the  Royal  Duke  as  part  of  his 
privilege. 


Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Charles  Floyer,  etc. 
East  India  House.    January  27  and  February  3,  1748. 

[Public   Despatches  from   England,   Vol.    51,  pp.   55-63   (Original 

9  PP.)) 
Cite  despatch  of  October  16,  1747,  despatched  by  II  ships. 
Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  despatches,  dated  January  10,  1747  (by 
Hugonin)  and  May  2  and  15  (by  the  Lapwing).  This  goes  by  the 
Hardwicke.  She  has  aboard  300  bales  of  broadcloth,  and  50 
tons  of  iron  to  be  forwarded  to  Bengal  ;  also  30  bales  of  long  ells 
and  70  tons  of  lead  to  be  sent  with  25  chests  of  silver  to 
China.  The  Scarborough,  Duke  of  Dorset  and  Wager  are  laded 
chiefly  with  naval  stores  for  the  Squadron.  When  these  are  landed 
the  ships  are  to  be  sent  to  China  with  25  chests  of  treasure  each 
and  the  lead  and  long  ells  already  on  board.  These  ships  must 
be  sent  at  all  events  to  China  besides  the  4  mentioned  in  the 
despatch  of  October  16,  in  order  to  reduce  the  tonnage  to  be  filled 
up  in  India.  In  case  the  latter  4  ships  have  not  been  despatched, 
10  more  chests  of  treasure  are  to  be  put  aboard  each.  There  are 
great  debts  in  Bengal ;  so  as  much  treasure  must  be  sent  thither 
as  possible.  There  is  a  great  demand  for  calicoes  and  beteellas 
in  Europe;  all  the  cloth  possible  must  be  secured  according 
to  the  last  investment  list.  Monson  reports  that  the  new  mer- 
chants' balances  at  Madras  amounted  to  16,000  Pags.  when 
the  place  was  taken  ;  these  must  be  recovered  as  well  as  the  old 


56  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

merchants'  balances  (18,478  Pags.  on  January  31,  I745\  and  what 
was  due  from  the  Chintadripet  Managers  (10,065  Pags.  on  the  same 
date),  reasonable  time  for  payment  being  allowed.  Approve  the 
opening  of  a  gold  and  silver  mint  at  Cuddalore  ;  one  of  the  cove- 
nanted servants  should  be  trained  in  assaying  under  Sidney 
Foxall,  who  is  to  be  employed  on  his  old  salary  until  the  Company 
reinstates  him.  The  desertion  of  the  English  by  the  Nawab  and 
his  sons  offers  a  warning  against  trusting  the  Country  powers  too 
far  or  paying  them  more  than  is  necessary.  Trust  that,  as  not 
only  the  Company's  property  but  also  the  property  and  liberty  of 
all  the  English  at  Fort  St.  David  are  at  stake,  the  new  works  are 
adequate  to  the  defence  of  the  place.  Confirm  Charles  Floyer  as 
President  and  Governor;  Edward  Croke  as  Second  (his  refusal  of 
the  Governorship  being  approved) ;  Stringer  Lawrence  as  Third  ; 
Richard  Prince  as  Fourth  and  to  succeed  as  Governor  in  case  of 
Floyer's  death  or  absence;  and  Thomas  Saunders,  William  Holt, 
Robert  Goodere,  Alexander  Wynch,  and  Foss  Westcott  as  Fifth, 
etc.,  of  Council.  Each  member  is  to  take  an  oath  of  fidelity  to 
the  Company  and  give  the  usual  security.  Vacancies  to  be  filled 
by  the  next  in  standing  according  to  the  list  sent  home  by  the 
Lapwing  until  it  is  decided  whether  the  Madras  servants  shall  be 
readmitted.  Will  await  the  result  ot  the  embassy  to  Nizam-ul- 
mulk  before  deciding  anything  about  John  Hallyburton. 

As  the  Lieutenants  of  the  Madras  garrison  '  did  not  forfeit  their 
honours  by  its  loss  '  and  have  behaved  well  since,  Captains' 
commissions  may  be  granted  to  such  as  Council  deems  proper.  '  Be 
sure  to  encourage  Ensign  Clive  in  his  martial  pursuits  according 
to  his  merit;  any  improvement  he  shall  make  there  shall  be  duly 
regarded  by  us.'     Will  send  all  the  recruits  that  can  be  got. 

An  accurate  account  of  the  quick  stock  must  be  sent  by  every 
ship.  All  coin  and  bullion  to  be  kept  by  the  President,  Second 
and  Fourth,  'except  a  running  cash  of  20,000  Pags.' kept  by  the 
President.  Muster-rolls  of  the  garrison,  lists  of  marriages,  births 
and  burials,  and  lists  of  the  inhabitants  must  be  sent  annually. 
As  the  Roman  Catholic  priests  and  inhabitants  at  Madras  have 
ever  acted  treacherously,  especially  at  its  capture,  Roman  Catholics 
may  have  no  church  or  priests  in  the  English  bounds,  nor  publicly 
profess  their  religion.  Understand  that  an  Italian  priest,  turned 
out  of  the  bounds  by  Hinde,  has  since  been  readmitted  ;  disapprove 
of  this.  Have  decided  that  the  Delaivar  be  sent  on  to  the  Malabar 
coast  to  be  laded  for  Benjar  and  China.  The  Madras  servants 
may  be  continued  in  employment  till  the  Company  has  decided 
about  their  reinstatement.     The  Dolphin  has  been  ordered  to  call  at 


CALENDAR   FOR   1747-1748  57 

Fort  St.  David  on  her  way  from  Bombay  to  Bengal.  La  Bourdon- 
nais  has  recently  been  seized  at  Falmouth  on  his  way  home  from 
St.  Eustacia.  Any  French  prisoners  taken  in  India  who  cannot  be 
exchanged  should  be  sent  to  Europe  not  more  than  15  on  any  one 
ship.  Have  received  application  from  Mrs.  Madeiros  for  the  pay- 
ment of  3  bonds  for  35,000  Pags.  and  30,000  Rs.t  lent  by  her 
husband  to  the  Governor,  etc.,  at  Madras  in  1745.  Repeat  the 
former  orders  for  a  full  statement  of  the  claims  for  money  lent  at 
Madras. 

Postscript:  16  more  chests  of  silver  are  to  be  sent  to  China. 
In  case  of  need,  writers  may  be  summoned  to  Fort  St.  David  from 
Sumatra. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Charles  Floyer,  etc. 
East  India  House.    February  10,  1748.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  51,  pp.  65-68  (Original  4 pp.)] 
This  goes  by  the  Dolphin,  which,  in  case  of  danger  from  French 
ships,  will  sail  direct  to  Fort  St.  David.  Repeat  orders  about  the 
Madras  debts  and  other  paragraphs  of  the  last  despatch.  Have 
engaged  Captain  Alexander  Delavaux  *  as  Chief  Engineer  and 
Captain  of  the  Train  of  Artillery,  on  a  salary  of  £200  a  year 
commencing  from  Christmas  last,  payable  at  95.  the  pagoda.  He 
is  to  have  an  apartment  in  the  Fort,  diet-money,  a  palankin  and 
servants  as  one  of  Council,  with  his  travelling  expenses  when  on 
the  Company's  business.  He  will  receive  the  same  military  and 
other  honours  as  one  of  Council.  Separate  instructions  have  been 
given  to  Floyer  about  him.  Thomas  Heath  entertained  with  rank 
as  writer  to  serve  under  Delavaux.  Special  care  must  be  taken 
about  all  accounts  of  advances,  etc.,  to  the  Admiral  and  the 
securing  of  proper  bills  of  exchange. 

Separate  Despatch  per  Lapwing  from  the  Company 
to  [Charles  Floyer]  Governor  of  Fort  St.  David. 
East  India  House.    February  10,  1748.    [Letter  Book,  Vol. 

27,  pp.  66-69  (India  Office  transcript.)) 

When  the  settlements  were  first  founded,  the  fortifications  were 
planned  unskilfully  and  are  so  extensive  as  to  require  larger 
garrisons  than  the  Company  can  maintain.  Also  the  inhabitants 
have   in   times   past   been    allowed    to    build,    etc.,    too   close    to 


*  In  the    List   of  soldiers   on  the  Lapwing  (p.    149  of  the   Despatch  volume)  he  is 
described  as  a  Prussian  40  years  of  age. 
8 


58  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

the    walls.     To   remedy   these   defects,    have   appointed   Captain 
Alexander  Delavaux  Chief  Engineer  of  all  the  Company's  settle- 
ments.    On  arrival  at  Fort  St.  David,  he  shall  survey  all  military 
works   to  enable  him  to  decide  what  changes   are  necessary  to 
render  them  capable  of  being  defended  by  a  garrison  of  not  more 
than  600.     He  shall  then  make  plans  of  the  fortifications  as  they 
are  and  of  the   alterations  he   proposes   to   make,  providing   for 
proper  casemates,  bomb-proofs,  magazines,  godowns  for  the  Com- 
pany's business  and  a  supply  of  good  water.     The  plans  are  to  be 
considered  in  consultation  with  Lawrence,  proper  estimates  framed 
and  the  necessary  materials  provided  with  the  greatest  frugality. 
Work  people  are  to  be  under  the  direction  of  the  Engineer,  and 
not  to  be  otherwise  employed.     The  Engineer  is  to  be  allowed 
what  clerks  are  necessary  to  keep  and  check  the  accounts  of  the 
stores,   etc.,  and  peons   to  keep  the  workmen   to  their  duty.     A 
Company's  servant  shall  be  appointed  Paymaster  to  pay  for  all 
materials  and  to  pay  the  wages  of  the  work  people,  etc.,  on  the 
Engineer's  certificates.     A  separate  account  shall  be  kept  of  all 
expenses  on  military  works.     No  buildings  shall  be  erected  and  no 
gardens   allowed  so   near  the   fortifications   as  to  obstruct  their 
defence.    The  Engineer  shall   prepare  a  plan  and  mark  out  the 
distance  within  which  it  will  be  necessary  to  demolish  all  buildings 
in  case  of  attack.     The  owners  of  such  houses  must  be  warned. 
In  case  of  difference  of  opinion  between  Lawrence  and  the  Engi- 
neer,  they  shall   put   it  in   writing  for   the    Governor's  decision. 
These  opinions  and  all  resolutions  about  military  works  shall  be 
entered  in  a  separate  book.     Send  a  set  of  mathematical  instru- 
ments for  the  use  of  the  Engineer.     They  are  to  be  checked  every 
year.    In  case  of  the  Engineer's  death,  the  Governor  shall  select  a 
proper  person  to  act  for  him  till   the  Company  can    appoint   a 
successor.     Any  civil  or  military  servant  with  a  taste  for  engineer- 
ing  is  to   be   instructed    by   the    Engineer.     Propose    to   form    a 
Company  of  Artillery  at  each  presidency  and  send  out  men  for  the 
purpose  by  the  next  ship.     All  sober  and  able  bodied  soldiers  are 
to  be  encouraged  to  learn  the  gun  exercise,  and  may  be  preferred 
to  the   Artillery  Company  where  the   pay   will  be  rather   better. 
Reasonable  allowance  of  gunpowder,  shot  and  shells  is  to  be  made 
for  the  purpose  of  the  exercise. 


THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES,   1748- 1749. 


Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  David.  September  2,  1748.  [Public  Despatches  to 
England,  Vol.  1 6,  pp.  I02-IIO  (Copy  8%  pp.)     Damaged.] 

The  Company's  ships  Lapwing,  Scarborough,  Duke  of  Dorset, 
Wager  and  Hardwicke  arrived  between  June  8  and  July  8.  On  July 
26  arrived  His  Majesty's  ships  Namur,  Deptford  and  Young  Eagle, 
bomb-tender.  On  July  27  arrived  His  Majesty's  ships  Vigilant, 
Pembroke,  Chester,  Ruby,  Swallow  sloop,  Basilisk  bomb,  Apollo  hospital 
ship,  St.  Francis  snow,  and  Porto  Bello  tender,  with  the  Company's 
ships  Delawar,  Edgebaston,  Chesterfield,  Admiral  Vernon,  Rhoda,  Royal 
Duke,  Lincoln,  Edgecote,  Elisabeth,  Fort  St.  George  and  Royal  George. 
His  Majesty's  ship  Deal  Castle  arrived  August  4.  The  Scarborough, 
Duke  of  Dorset  and  Wager,  after  landing  the  King's  stores,  were 
despatched  for  China.  Of  the  4  China  ships  that  arrived  with 
Boscawen,  2  were  despatched  August  29,  the  watering  and  victual- 
ling the  fleet  and  landing  the  Artillery  having  occupied  all  the 
boats  and  catamarans  for  some  time;  the  other  2  will  be  despatch- 
ed when  Boscawen  needs  them  no  longer. 

Have  laded  on  the  Benjamin  (which  carries  this)  200  bales  of 
cloth  and  20  candies  of  redwood.  She  will  be  filled  up  with 
pepper  and  despatched  to  England  from  Sumatra.  Regret  the 
impossibility  of  lading  another  ship.  The  merchants  now  say  that 
they  promised  3,000  bales  by  mistake,  that  they  never  meant 
more  than  1,500,  and  that  they  had  brought  in  770  bales  with  great 
difficulty  owing  to  the  troubles  occasioned  by  the  deaths  of  the 
Moghal  and  Nizam-ul-mulk. 

Should  havej^ent  the  Lapwing  with  rupees  to  Bengal,  but  for 
the  appearance%f  a  French  Squadron  of  8  sail  on  June  10.  Griffin 
was  in  the  road  with  His  Majesty's  ships  Princess  Mary,  Exeter, 
York,  Harwich,  Preston,  Eltham,  Pearl,  Medway's  Prize  and  Lively,  and 
the  Company's  ships  Winchelsea,  Bombay  Castle  and  Exeter.  About 
II  that  night  he   weighed  and  stood  to  the  northward.     But  the 


60  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

French  ships  never  came  near  Pondichery,  landing  their  treasure 
and  recruits  in  two  hours  at  Madras;  they  also  left  there  the 
Princess  Amelia  (fitted  as  a  hospital-ship)  and  a  sloop.  As  it  was 
likely  the  French  had  sailed  for  Bengal,  the  Lapwing  was  detained 
till  further  orders.  The  Exeter  and  Winchelsea  were  sent  on  the 
25th  under  convoy  of  the  Medzvay's  Prize  and  Apollo  with  75  chests 
of  treasure  for  Bengal  and  32,000  Madras  Pags.  with  2  chests  of 
treasure  for  the  Northern  settlements.  Will  send  75  more  chests 
of  treasure  by  the  Porto  Bello  and  Bombay  Castle,  and  will  then  have 
I40  chests  remaining  for  the  War,  the  investment,  etc. 

When  Griffin  sailed  in  pursuit  of  the  French,  Dupleix  thought  it 
an  opportunity  to  attack  Cuddalore.  2,000  men  (of  whom  deserters 
reported  900  to  be  Europeans)  marched  out  on  the  night  of  June 
16,  and  at  noon  next  day  they  were  reported  4  miles  due  west  of 
Cuddalore.  Lawrence  ordered  a  party  of  sepoys  into  Cuddalore 
and  went  there  himself  in  the  evening.  The  French  attacked 
briskly  about  a  quarter  past  nine,  but  retreated  in  less  than  an 
hour  with  the  loss  of  their  Commanding  Officer,  30  Europeans 
and  50  sepoys,  besides  many  deserters.  Could  a  field-piece  or  two 
have  been  sent  into  Cuddalore  as  well  as  the  sepoys,  the  enemy's 
loss  would  have  been  much  greater  ;  but  the  English  having  given 
out  that  they  intended  to  abandon  Cuddalore  on  the  approach  of 
the  French,  the  latter  were  so  surprised  that  they  made  no  further 
attempt  on  the  place. 

As  soon  as  Boscawen's  troops  were  landed,  they  camped  east 
of  the  Garden  House  till  the  stores  and  train  were  ashore.  On 
August  8,  the  King's  and  Company's  troops  marched,  but  were  so 
hindered  by  their  baggage  that  they  only  reached  Ariyankuppam, 
on  the  I2th.  The  fort  there  was  so  strong  that  it  was  not  taken  till 
the  19th.  Lawrence  and  Captain  Bruce  (of  the  Independents)  were 
made  prisoners  in  an  attack  on  the  English  trenches.  The  Com- 
pany's troops  however  were  gallantly  rallied  by  Captain  Hollond 
who  drove  the  French  out  again.  Hollond  has  received  a  musket- 
shot  in  his  shoulder.  Lawrence  has  written  to  say  that  he  and 
Bruce  are  being  very  well-treated.  John  Hallyburton  has  been 
shot  by  a  sepoy  whom  he  was  reprimanding  for  some  fault ;  the 
murderer  was  at  once  cut  to  pieces  by  his  companions.  The  troops 
are  now  camped  north  of  Pondichery,  where  they  are  landing 
heavy  artillery  and  carrying  on  approaches. 

The  Princess  Augusta  brought  a  cargo  of  timber  and  arrack  from 
Batavia  in  May.     Other  shipping  news. 


CALENDAR   FOR    1748-1749  61 

If  the  Company's  orders  to  close  the  Roman  Catholic  Church 
were  executed,  not  one  of  the  529  topasses  in  garrison  would 
remain.  Lawrence  considered  they  behaved  very  well  in  the 
attack  on  Cuddalore,  and  did  not  think  the  risk  of  losing  them 
should  be  run.  None  have  deserted,  though  it  would  not  be  possi- 
ble to  prevent  them  from  doing  so  if  they  wished.  The  orders 
shall  be  carried  out  as  soon  as  there  are  Europeans  enough  in  the 
garrison. 

The  Madras  merchants  have  been  summoned  to  settle  their 
accounts.  Hopkins  who  was  Sub- Accountant  was  ill  for  a  while,  and 
then  found  that  the  charge  of  the  boats  when  Boscawen's  Squadron 
arrived  would  take  up  most  of  his  time ;  so  he  resigned  and  has 
been  struck  off  the  list  of  covenanted  servants.  John  Duncumbe, 
who  is  said  to  be  experienced  in  book-keeping,  has  been  appointed 
Sub-Accountant.  Send  accounts  of  advances  to  ships'  Captains  for 
provisions  and  to  Belsches  for  the  Naval  hospital.  The  Fort  St. 
David  works  are  at  a  stand-still  as  Boscawen  has  most  of  the  brick- 
layers with  him.  The  Governor,  etc.,  return  thanks  for  their 
appointment  and  will  find  the  required  sureties.  Wynch  has 
accompanied  Boscawen  to  camp.  The  embassy  to  Nasir  Jang 
cost  20,518  Pags. 

Appended  are: — (i)  sailing  orders  for  the  Benjamin;  and  (2) 
list  of  the  packet. 

I 

Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 

FORT  ST.  DAVID.     OCTOBER  II,  1748.     [Public  Despatches   to 
England,  Vol.  1 6,  pp.  1 10— 112  {Copy  2%  pp.)] 

Have  laded  300  bales  of  cloth  and  30  tons  of  redwood  on  board 
the  Oxford  which  is  being  sent  to  fill  up  with  pepper  at  Tellicherry. 
Prince  and  Westcott  arrived  September  28  and  have'  taken  their 
seats  in  Council.  Father  Severini  has  applied  for  repayment  of  a 
bond  for  6,000  Pags.  given  by  the  Governor,  etc.,  of  Madras  for 
money  received  on  account  of  the  orphans.  Mrs.  Medeiros  has  also 
applied  for  the  repayment  of  her  3  bonds.  Boscawen  has  been 
forced  to  raise  the  siege  of  Pondichery  by  the  lateness  of  the 
season  and  the  sickliness  of  his  people.  1,000  are  now  in  hospital. 
The  troops  returned  here  October  7.     Shipping  news,  etc. 

Postscript — October  12  :  Have  drawn  bills  on  the  Company  for 
£100. 

Appended  is  the  list  of  the  packet. 


62  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  David.    October  17,   1748.    [Public  Despatches  to 

England,  Vol.  16,  pp.  113  -117  (Copy  aV2  pp.)] 

Sent  by  the  Swift  snow  which  Floyer  is  sending  to  England. 
Since  September  2,  Lieutenant  Browne  of  the  Bengal  detachment 
and  Ensign  Wright  of  the  Bombay  detachment  have  been  killed. 
Enclose  a  return  of  the  losses  of  the  Company's  troops  before  Pondi- 
chery.  Boscawen  is  discussing  an  exchange  of  prisoners  with 
Dupleix  who  is  willing  to  give  up  all  but  Lawrence.  Boscawen  has 
replied  that  unless  Lawrence  is  included,  all  his  prisoners  s4*all  be 
sent  to  Europe.  Captain  Morgan  having  resigned,  Captain  Hollond 
(who  is  almost  recovered  of  his  wound)  is  acting  as  Commandant. 

It  is  generally  believed  that  the  Charter  for  the  Mayor's  Court  at 
Madras  gives  the  Council  no  power  to  establish  a  Civil  Court  at 
Fort  St.  David  ;  desire  the  Company's  instructions. 

Shipping  news.  Prince  has  been  made  Paymaster;  Wynch, 
Import  Warehouse-keeper  and  Customer  of  Devanampattanam  ; 
Westcott,  Store-keeper  and  Scavenger  ;  Saunders,  Chief  of  Vizaga- 
patam  ;  Goodere,  Resident  at  Ingeram  ;  Churchey,  Second  ;  and 
Banks  Third  at  Vizagapatam.  Charles  Nicholls  (Resident  at  Nega- 
patam)  died  in  July  ;  he  has  been  replaced  by  Peter  St.  Paul  who 
came  out  with  Boscawen  and  speaks  several  languages.  Diamonds 
registered  amount  to  65,557  Pags. 

Postscript — October  19:  Captain  John  de  Morgan  has  delivered 
in  a  Madras  bond  for  1,200  Pags.,  dated  1745. 

Appended  are: — (i)  register  of  diamonds;  and  (2)  list  of  the 
packet. 

Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the  Company- 
Fort  St.  DAVID.  JANUARY  16,  1749.  [Public  Despatches  to 
England,  Vol.  17,  pp.  I -4  (Copy  iVi  PP-)\ 

This  goes  by  the  Lapwing,  ordered  to  call  in  for  despatches. 
Will  write  more  fully  sending  books,  papers,  etc.,  by  the  ships 
expected  from  Bengal,  Porto  Bello,  True  Briton  or  Winchelsea. 
Will  not  be  able  to  fill  all ;  so  one  must  be  sent  to  fill  with  pepper 
at  Tellicherry.  Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  despatch  of  May  10. 
1748,  sent  overland.  As  Boscawen  will  discharge  the  Company's 
ships  on  their  return  here  after  the  monsoon,  have  sent  the  Colchester 
with  some  redwood  and  saltpetre  to  fill  at  Tellicherry,  where  there 
are  1,200  tons  of  surplus  pepper.     Shipping  news. 

\ 


CALENDAR   FOR    1748-1749  63 

Tfye  day  after  news  of  the  cessation  of  arms  arrived,  Boscawen 
reported  it  to  Dupleix,  who  at  once  released  Major  Lawrence  and 
Captain  Bruce  on  their  paroles.  On  the  arrival  of  the  Favorite  at 
Pondichery  on  January  7,  he  released  his  other  prisoners  also 
and  Lawrence  was  able  to  take  charge  again  of  the  garrison 
from  Captain  Hollond,  who  had  become  the  senior  officer  on 
Captain  de  Morgan's  resignation  owing  to  age  and  ill-health. 
Hollond  held  the  command  on  the  same  terms  as  Captain  Gibson, 
and  now,  as  there  is  no  more  prospect  of  active  service,  he  will 
take  the  first  ship  to  Bengal.  Morgan's  vacancy  was  filled  with 
William  Henry  Southby,  a  Lieutenant  of  Marines  recommended  by 
Boscawen.  When  Gingins  was  appointed  to  the  Troop  of  Horse, 
John  Scrimsour,  the  next  senior  officer,  was  given  his  company  with 
the  proviso  that,  if  the  Company  disallowed  the  Troop,  he  was  to 
surrender  the  Captaincy  to  Gingins  ;  in  Scrimsour's  room  promoted 
James  Cope,  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  in  reward  for  his  pains  in 
disciplining  the  Military.  Needing  another  Artillery  officer,  gave 
a  commission  to  Peter  Nost,  Bombardier  of  His  Majesty's  Train  ; 
at  present  he  is  serving  as  an  Ensign  in  the  Military  but  will  shortly 
be  made  a  Lieutenant  in  the  Artillery. 

Will  have  about  1,500  bales  to  send  home  besides  the  500  sent 
by  the  Benjamin  and  Oxford.  Consider  them  of  pretty  good  quality, 
but  the  prices  of  some  varieties  had  to  be  raised  2  Pags.  the  corge, 
as  inferior  cloth  was  coming  in  owing  to  the  troubles  and  the 
dearness  of  cotton.  The  French  buying  nothing  and  the  Dutch 
little,  could  have  had  a  much  greater  number  of  bales  if  the  mer- 
chants could  have  been  supplied  with  more  money  ;  but  '  the 
prodigious  expenses  we  have  been  at  lately  '  and  the  uncertainty 
of  the  next  supply,  prevented  large  advances  being  given. 

Have  permitted  Lennox  to  remain  in  India  as  he  has  not  been 
able  to  collect  in  all  his  effects,  or  dispose  of  all  his  goods,  which 
the  expected  peace  may  probably  permit  him  to  do.  Enclose  an 
account  of  the  expenses  of  the  siege  of  Pondichery,  amounting  to 
94,558  Pags.  and  a  statement  of  the  stores  expended  ;  applied  to 
Boscawen  for  reimbursement  and  enclose  the  correspondence.  On 
hisrepresenting  that  the  subsistence  money  allowed  by  His  Majesty 
was  insufficient  to  maintain  the  men,  and  giving  in  a  list  of  what 
further  allowance  should  be  made  to  the  officers  and  privates,  the 
extra  allowance  was  granted  as  there  was  great  discontent  amongst 
them. 

The  Porto  Bello  and  True  Briton  have  now  arrived.  Have  not 
yet  received  the  accounts  from  the  subordinate  factories  to  permit 


64  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

sending    a   statement  of  the  Company's  quick  stock.     Diamonds 
registered  100,470  Pags. 

Appended    are  : — (i)  register    of   diamonds  ;  (2)    manifest    of 
sundries  shipped  as  presents  ;  and  (3)  list  of  the  packet. 

Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St   David.    February  22, 1749.    [Public  Despatches  to 

England,  Vol.  17,  pp.  10-31  {Copy  21%  pp.)] 

Cite  despatches  of  April  25,  September  2,  October  II  and  17,  1748, 
and  January  16.  Now  write  by  the  Porto  Bello.  By  His  Majesty's 
ship  Tartar  on  January  28  and  Company's  ship  Pelham  on  February  2 
received  despatches  of  May  18  and  June  27  [Wanting].  Most  of  the 
Squadron  is  now  refitting  at  Crankanella  Bay,  whither  the  Pelham 
has  gone  to  deliver  her  naval  stores.  Other  shipping  news. 
Though  there  was  an  unexpectedly  large  amount  of  tonnage,  hoped 
with  all  the  unbleached  cloth  in  the  warehouse,  with  what  more 
could  speedily  be  procured,  and  with  redwood  and  saltpetre,  to  be 
able  to  fill  both  the  Porto  Bello  and  Winchelsea,  the  True  Briton  being 
sent  to  fill  with  pepper  at  Tellicherry  ;  but  the  Winchelsea  brought 
only  314  instead  of  700  bales  from  Vizagapatam  and  Ingeram  (200 
bales  were  badly  wetted  going  down  the  river  from  Ingeram  and 
could  not  be  sent  off),  so  that  only  the  Porto  Bello  can  be  laded  home, 
and  the  Winchelsea  must  be  sent  to  bring  pepper,  timber,  etc.,  from 
Malabar,  and  (it  is  hoped)  will  be  despatched  for  Europe  in  May. 
All  this  might  have  been  avoided  if  the  Porto  Bello  had  been 
ordered  in  Bengal  to  call  for  the  Northern  bales,  for  then  the 
Winchelsea  would  have  arrived  in  time  to  be  sent  to  fill  with  pepper, 
and  the  Porto  Bello  and  the  True  Briton  (smaller  ships)  could  have 
been  fully  laded  at  Fort  St.  David.  Other  shipping  news.  The 
Princess  Augusta  has  been  sent  to  Bengal,  and  the  Brilliant  to 
Bombay,  for  repairs.  Byers,  Captain  of  the  latter,  having  died  on 
October  29,  has  been  replaced  by  Edward  Burman,  Lieutenant  in 
the  Artillery  and  an  experienced  seaman,  on  condition  that  this 
service  shall  not  prejudice  his  rank  in  the  Army. 

On  application  to  Boscawen,  the  treasure  on  the  Tartar  was 
landed  here  for  coinage,  and  that  by  the  Pelham  is  now  being 
coined.  Shall  forward  a  great  part  of  it  to  Bengal  ;  45  chests  of 
rupees  already  sent.  Of  the  treasure  received  last  year,  190  chests 
of  rupees  were  sent  to  Bengal  ;  that  was  all  that  could  be  spared, 
and  when  the  Tartar  and  Pelham  arrived,  there  was  little  left  in 
cash.  Agreed  to  sell  the  broadcloth  to  the  Fort  St.  David  mer- 
chants on  the  terms  usual  at  Madras ;  but  they  crying  off,  it   was 


CALENDAR   FOR   I 748-1 749  65 

all  sold  to  Linga  Chetti  at  the  same  rate,  on  his  agreeing  to  pay 
for  the  whole  within  12  months.  Have  sent  to  Bengal  large  quan- 
tities of  the  lead  and  iron  on  the  ships  that  came  out  with 
Boscawen.  Have  sold  the  Madeira  wine  already  received  at  50 
Pags.  the  pipe.  The  country  ship  Fort  St.  George  was  laded  at 
Vizagapatam  with  20  pipes  of  that  brought  out  by  the  Oxford  but 
was  chased  off  Madras  by  one  of  His  Majesty's  ships  and  has  not 
since  been  heard  of  ;  fear  she  is  either  lost  or  taken.  75  barrels 
of  gunpowder  landed  from  the  Porto  Bello,  etc.,  was  so  bad  that  it 
had  to  be  re-made.  Rice  and  wheat  sent  from  Bengal  were  not  only 
extremely  bad  but  deficient  in  weight.  Linga  Chetti  reports  that 
the  dollars  sent  out  by  the  Tartar  are  of  a  new  sort,  and  of  inferior 
fineness,  being  4  dwt.  worse  than  standard  ;  those  sent  by  the 
Pelham  are  the  same. 

On  receiving  treasure  by  the  Porto  Bello,  etc.,  contracted  at  once 
with  the  merchants  for  an  investment.  Including  the  bales  sent 
by  the  Benjamin  and  Oxford,  have  provided  2,103  bales ;  could  not 
make  advances  for  a  larger  quantity  owing  to  the  expense  of  the 
fortifications  and  other  calls.  Expected  a  considerable  investment 
from  the  Northern  factories,  which  were  kept  well  supplied  with 
money  ;  but  the  disturbances  arising  from  disputes  between  the 
Nawab  and  the  Rajahs  prevented  more  than  514  bales  being  pro- 
vided, of  which  200  had  to  be  returned  to  be  repacked.  But  this 
year  have  better  prospects  both  there  and  here.  200  bales  of 
unbleached  cloth  were  laded  on  the  Porto  Bello  when  it  was 
hoped  to  send  the  Winchelsea  home  as  well  ;  and  these  have 
had  to  be  continued  on  board  as  it  would  take  too  long  to  replace 
them  by  others.  Bleaching  has  been  greatly  hindered  by  much 
rain  in  December  and  cloudy  weather  in  the  beginning  of  January. 

Floyer  wrote  to  the  Madras  merchants  about  their  balances, 
and  several  answered  that  they  were  coming  to  Fort  St.  David  ; 
none  have  come  yet,  because  their  losses  at  Madras  have  made 
them  shy  of  coming  so  near  to  the  French  at  Pondichery  ;  but  the 
prospect  of  peace  will  doubtless  remove  their  fears.  The  Fort  St. 
David  merchants  have  cleared  their  balances. 

A  present  of  about  1,000  Pags.  was  ordered  to  be  prepared 
for  the  Nawab  when* he  visited  Porto  Novo,  but  he  made  so  short 
a  stay  that  the  present  was  not  made.  At  present  the  country  is 
quiet  and  there  has  been  little  correspondence  with  the  country 
powers.  The  work  on  the  fortifications  had  to  be  suspended  on 
Boscawen's  arrival,  the  coolies  and  artificers  being  needed  at  camp  ; 
but  hope  to  complete  by  May  or  June  the  horn  work,  the  lunettes 
9 


66  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

on  the  east  and  west,  and  the  glacis,  together  with  the  works  begun 
at  Cuddalore.  Delavaux  has  proposed  a  new  work  to  strengthen 
P  the  southern  face  of  the  Fort  next  the  river ;  his  plan  has  been 
approved  by  Floyer  and  Lawrence,  and  will  be  put  in  hand  when 
the  other  works  are  complete.  The  Company  will  be  able  to  judge 
its  utility  by  the  plan  of  the  Fort  now  sent.  The  progress  made 
since  the  despatch  by  the  Warwick  is  particularised  in  Floyer's 
despatch  to  the  Secret  Committee. 

Have  built  a  godown  near  the  Bandipalaiyam  washing-place  for 
the  cloth  in  process  of  being  bleached,  as  much  was  being  damaged 
by  rats  and  white  ants.  Have  also  built  stabling  for  110  horses 
for  the  Troop.  13,581  Pags.  awarded  as  compensation  for  houses 
pulled  down  in  Devanampattanam  and  the  Colloway,  to  be  distribut- 
ed by  Croke  and  Wynch.  On  July  I,  1748,  the  cowle  for  the  Bounds 
Rent  was  renewed  for  5  years  at  the  increased  rent  of  4,000  Pags. 
a  year  to  the  old  renter,  it  having  been  long  rented  by  his  family 
and  the  increased  rent  being  as  much  as  was  offered  by  others. 
The  Arrack  Farm  has  been  suspended,  as  on  Lawrence's  recom- 
mendation the  retailing  of  spirits  was  prohibited  within  the 
Bounds.  During  the  siege  of  Pondichery,  the  Land-duty  on  grain 
was  taken  off  to  encourage  its  import. 

Robert  Turing,  long  in  the  Company's  service  and  Surgeon  at 
Vizagapatam,  has  been  brought  down  to  assist  Belsches  as  Second 
Surgeon  here)  the  work  being  too  great  for  one  man-  Turing 
highly  deserves  the  Company's  favour.  Have  readmitted  Richard 
Starke  and  John  Pybus  to  the  Company's  service  with  their  old 
standing ;  Starke  is  Upper-Searcher  in  the  Cuddalore  Customs-house 
and  Pybus  Sub-Secretary.  Richard  Fairfield  and  John  Starke,  sent 
out  as  writers  for  Madras,  have  been  brought  down  from  Bengal, 
whither  they  went  as  Madras  was  taken.  Delavaux  represents 
that  Thomas  Heath  has  no  turn  for  engineering ;  so  he  is  employed 
under  the  Accountant.  On  Foxall's  death  appointed  William 
Holt  to  supervise  the  Mint  on  half  the  salary  allowed  to  Foxall ; 
he  refused  to  accept  less  than  the  full  salary  ;  but  this  was  refused, 
as  he  knows  nothing  of  assaying  ;  so  at  present  he  has  no  allowance 
as  Assay-Master.  Thomas  Cooke,  allowed  to  visit  Bengal  on  private 
affairs  in  October,  has  just  returned.  Richard  Rider,  appointed 
Chaplain  at  Madras,  died  at  Batavia  on  his  way  from  Sumatra  to 
Fort  St.  David.  Have  allowed  8  Pags.  a  month  each  to  Phoebe 
Graham  and  Elizabeth  Smith,  as  they  are  in  poor  circumstances 
and  their  late  husbands  were  pretty  high  in  the  Company's 
service.    John  Savage,  late  of  Council  at  Madras,  died  in  July.     On 


CALENDAR    FOR   1748-1749  67 

Delavaux'  arrival,  George  Jones  handed  over  charge  of  the  works 
and  the  Train,  and  went  to  Tranquebar.  When  the  troops  set  out 
for  Pondichery,  Lawrence  required  more  officers;  soon  Boscawen's 
recommendation  Thomas  Greenville  and  Allen  Stuart  (who  came 
out  with  him  as  volunteers)  were  made  Ensigns  ;  the  latter  has  since 
resigned.  Have  given  the  Lieutenants  commissions  as  Captains, 
and  appointed  John  Scrimsour  Lieutenant  of  Lawrence's  com- 
pany as  a  reward  for  his  conduct  when  the  French  attacked 
Cuddalore.  Benjamin  Pigou  has  been  made  Ensign.  The 
European  privates  were  rewarded  for  their  conduct  at  Cuddalore 
with  2  shirts  each,  the  sepoys'  Chiefs  with  a  few  yards  of  broad- 
cloth and  their  people  with  a  turban  or  sash  each.  On  de  Morgan's 
resignation,  he  applied  for  something  more  than  half-pay,  in 
consideration  of  his  poverty  and  large  family  ;  have  allowed  him  a 
pension  of  25  Pags.  a  month  till  the  Company's  pleasure  is  known.' 
James  Cope  has  been  promoted  Captain-Lieutenant  on  Lawrence's 
advising  that  there  was  generally  an  officer  of  that  rank  in  the 
1st  company.  The  officers  of  His  Majesty's  Train  having  no 
commissions  under  that  of  Lieutenant,  corresponding  commissions 
were  given  to  those  of  the  Company's  Train  During  the  siege, 
Boscawen  reported  that  the  Company's  troops  needed  more  officers 
to  perform  the  necessary  duty,  and  recommended  some  of  his 
volunteers.  So  John  Grant,  William  Boyde,  Matthew  Samson, 
Samuel  Samson,  and  John  Innis  were  made  Ensigns;  and  Samuel 
Worral,  Cornet.  Boyde  and  Matthew  Samson  have  since  resigned, 
and  their  places  have  been  filled  by  William  Gordon  and  Peter 
Nost.  Lawrence  Donaldson  and  John  Brooks,  who  came  out  with 
Lawrence,  and  Ensign  William  de  Morgan  died  last  year.  The 
last  had  property  amounting  to  262  Pags.  Ensign  Love  command- 
ing at  Vizagapatam  has  been  promoted  Lieutenant  on  Prince's 
recommendation.  The  Troop  of  horse  is  of  infinite  service,  as  it  can 
be  relied  on  ;  its  expense  will  be  more  than  recouped  by  the  dismis- 
sal of  peons  who  were  of  little  service  at  Pondichery  ;  and  it  will 
be  extremely  useful  in  releasing  goods  stopped  in  the  country,  etc. 
Boscawen  agrees  that  it  will  be  much  more  useful  than  peons,  of 
whom  he  has  a  poor  opinion.  The  horses  have  cost  19,412  Pags. 
Have  sent  home  3  soldiers  unfit  for  duty  who  must  otherwise 
have  been  invalided.  The  Military  Regulations  shall  be  put  in 
execution  '  as  near  as  possible  ' — indeed  Lawrence  has  already 
introduced  most  of  them. 

Have  requested  Peyton  to  certify  the   accounts  relating  to  the 
Squadron  when  under  his  and  Barnett's  command  ;  but  he  objected 


68  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

that  they  all  related  to  Barnett's  time,  and  would  say  no  more  than 
that  if  Morse  could  produce  orders  for  the  purchase  of  the  provi- 
sions that  were  in  the  warehouse  when  Madras  was  taken,  the 
Victualling  Board  would  allow  the  claim-  Now  furnish  a  statement 
of  all  the  accounts  Morse  has  as  yet  furnished,  but  he  has  many 
papers  still  at  Tranquebar  not  yet  drawn  out  into  regular  accounts. 

The  wife  of  Coja  Sultan  David  (formerly  an  inhabitant  of 
Madras  but  now  residing  at  Pondichery)  drew  bills  at  Ispahan  on 
her  husband  in  favour  of  the  President,  etc.,  of  Bombay.  They 
attached  20,000  Rs.  of  Sultan  David's,  in  the  hands  of  President 
Wake  and  also  took  a  bond  for  8,580  Rs.  from  Coja  Shawmier 
(Sultan  David's  son)  for  the  balance  of  the  bills.  This  bond  was 
sent  to  Fort  St.  David  for  collection.  Sultan  David  agreed  not  to 
contest  the  attachment  of  the  20,000  Rs. ;  but,  neither  he  nor  his  son 
having  sufficient  to  pay  off  the  bond  in  full,  he  was  allowed  to 
offset  the  amount  of  the  bond  against  bonds  granted  him  by  Morse, 
etc.,  at  Madras. 

On  January  23,  seven  sail  of  French  ships  reached  Madras  where 
they  landed  many  sick.  They  are  believed  to  be  from  the  Islands. 
On  their  way  they  captured  a  Dutch  ship  from  Japan  and  sent  her 
to  the  Islands,  not  knowing  of  the  cessation  of  arms.  Off  Pulicat 
they  seized  an  English  country  ship  and  carried  her  into  Madras, 
but  soon  released  her.  On  January  29  they  came  to  Pondichery  ; 
and  on  February  II,  one  sailed  for  Bengal.  The  same  day  2  French 
ships  arrived,  said  to  be  from  Europe,  with  much  treasure  and  many 
men,  but  our  intelligence  is  not  wholly  reliable.  5  are  now  under 
sail,  said  to  be  bound  for  France.  Will  publish  the  declaration 
about  the  Dutch  as  ordered. 

On  Griffin's  return  from  Madras  in  June  1748,  he  wrote  inquiring 
whether  we  were  able  to  defend  the  Fort  and  Bounds  if  he  went 
in  search  of  the  enemy's  Squadron.  The  opinions  of  Lawrence 
and  Delavaux  were  sent,  with  a  state  of  the  garrison,  etc. 
These  he  laid  before  a  Council  of  War  which  resolved  to  deliver 
up  the  Company's  ships  and  the  Company's  men  aboard  the 
Squadron,  and  to  go  in  search  of  the  enemy,  if  the  Fort,  etc.,  could 
be  defended  with  the  garrison  and  the  men  who  might  be  taken 
from  the  ships.  Lawrence's  and  Delavaux  '  opinions  were  again 
taken,  and  the  result  communicated  to  Griffin  ;  but  he  did  nothing 
in  consequence.  His  Majesty's  ship  Preston  being  condemned, 
her  guns  were  delivered  to  Floyer,  etc.  They  were  very  welcome 
as  most  of  the  guns  mounted  on  the  Fort  were  honey-combed.  His 
Majesty's  ship  Medway  has  also  been  condemned  and  her  guns  will 


CALENDAR   FOR    1748-1749  69 

be  delivered  by  Boscawen.  On  May  I,  1748,  His  Majesty's  ship 
Medway's  Prize  brought  in  the  Sta.  Catarinka,  from  Persia.  She  had  a 
French  Commander  and  was  pretty  plainly  proved  to  belong  to  the 
French.  She  and  her  cargo  were  accordingly  sold.  Soon  after 
Coja  Petrus  Uscan  wrote  from  Pulicat  that  she  was  owned  by 
Armenian,  Portuguese  and  Muhammadan  merchants,  whose  com- 
plaints to  the  Country  Government  might  injure  the  Company's 
investment.  He  was  told  in  reply  that  the  Council  had  resolved  not 
to  interfere  with  the  Squadron,  and  then  desired  that  the  matter 
might  be  referred  to  Europe.  A  Balasore  grainship  going  into 
Madras  was  taken  by  the  Benjamin  when  under  Griffin's  orders. 
She  had  a  French  half-caste  as  Captain.  Her  cargo  was  adjudged 
good  prize  but  she  herself  was  released.  On  the  owners'  complaint, 
the  Country  Government  is  hindering  the  Company's  business  in 
Bengal.  The  Bombay  Castle  also  took  a  Jedda  ship  commanded 
by  a  Frenchman.  She  and  her  cargo  were  sold,  on  which  Floyer 
applied  to  the  Prize  Agent  desiring  him  to  deposit  the  proceeds  in 
the  Company's  treasury  till  she  should  have  been  condemned  in 
England ;  but  this  was  refused.  When  on  the  Malabar  coast  with 
His  Majesty's  ships  Exeter  and  Winchester,  Captain  Pawlett  bought 
fresh  provisions  at  Tellicherry,  paying  for  them  by  bill  on  Griffin's 
Agent-Victualler  ;  but  the  latter  refusing  them,  Pawlett  gave  bills 
on  the  Admiralty. 

Supplement :  For  lack  of  a  proper  person  to  register  wills,  the 
wills  of  various  persons  who  have  died  have  been  entered  on  the 
Consultations.  Morse  has  put  in  claims  on  the  Company  for  30,000 
Pags.  under  bonds  dated  at  Madras,  June  12,  and  September  30,  1746. 
Ships'  Captains  refuse  to  pay  for  gunnybags  for  their  ballast. 
Samuel  Harrison  owes  the  church  stock  2,000  Pags.  lent  upon 
his  house  at  Madras.  Have  asked  Mrs.  Harrison  for  payment,  but 
she  answers  that  she  is  just  going  to  Europe  and  has  already 
remitted  all  her  husband's  money  thither.  Have  laded  938  bales 
on  this  ship  ;  her  Fort  St.  David  cargo  is  invoiced  at  102,207  Pags. 
Balance  in  Cash,  21,635  Pags.  Diamonds  registered  76,007  Pags. 
Certificates  granted  for  116  Pags.,  for  the  estate  of  Oswald  Saw 
deceased. 

Postscript :  Bills  drawn  on  the  Company  for  456  Pags. ;  also 
for  4,246  Pags.,  proceeds  of  a  prize  cargo  received  into  the  Com- 
pany's Cash  last  August. 

Appended  are  : — (i)  sailing  orders  for  the  Porto  Bello ;  (2) 
register  of  diamonds;  (3)  list  of  the  packet;  and  (4)  manifest  of 
sundries  licensed  as  presents. 


7o  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 

FORT  ST.  DAVID.     MAY  II,  1749.      [Public  Despatches  to  England, 
Vol.  17,  PP-  40-43  (Copy  2V2  pp.)] 

Have  to  report  the  loss  of  above  40  vessels  on  this  Coast  in  a 
violent  storm  on  April  13  and  14.     The  losses  include  His  Majesty's 
ships  Namur  and  Pembroke,  which  were  lying  at  anchor  in  the  Fort 
St.  David  roads.     They  cut  their  cables  ;  but  the  Namur  having  lost 
all  her  masts,  anchored  to  avoid  running  on   the  Coleroon   Point 
and  foundered  ;  the  Pembroke  *  ran  on  the  Point  as  she  was  trying 
to  weather  it  with  all  sails  set,  and  split  at  once.     Nearly  900  men 
perished  on  these  2  ships,  and  only  35  were  saved.     No  news  has 
been  received  of  His  Majesty's  ships  Apollo  and   St.  Francis  snow, 
which  are  believed  to  be  lost  with  340  men  aboard.     The  Company 's. 
ships    Winchelsea   and  Lincoln  drove  ashore   a   little  south  of  the 
Fort,  but  only  2  or  3  people  were  drowned,  as  the  surf  threw  them 
pretty  high  on  the  shore.     The  Princess  Augusta  was  wrecked  half- 
way between  here  and  Porto  Novo,   but  most  of  her  crew  were 
saved.     His  Majesty's  ships  Tartar,  Deal  Castle  and  Swallow,  which 
had  sailed  south  with  the  Company's  ship  Edgebaston,  lost  all  their 
masts.     The   last-named   was   driven    ashore  off  Pondichery,  but 
was  got  off  with  the   aid  of  Dupleix  and  has  sailed  for  Bengal. 
The  Company's  ships  Somerset,  Royal   George   and  Rhoda  met  the 
storm    at    sea    on    their    way    from  Bengal,    but    suffered    little, 
except    that    the    Rhoda   had  to  cut  away    her  top   masts.     The 
French  and  Dutch  have  suffered  equally.     3  ships    and   2   small 
vessels  belonging  to  the   French  drove  ashore  between  here   and 
Pondichery.     One  is  said  to  have  been  a  6o-gun  ship,  but  all  her 
crew  were  saved  ;  another  was  bringing  cannon  from  Madras  and 
foundered  on  the  way.     The  Dutch  have  lost  several  ships,  but  the 
exact  number  is  unknown.     There  was  a  violent  gale  on  the  Malabar 
coast  on  April  14,  when  a  Company's  sloop  was  lost  on  her  way 
to  Anjengo.     His  Majesty's  ship  Syren  was  refreshing  her  people  at 
Colombo,  and  so  escaped  this  disaster.     She  arrived  April  30.     She 
had  50  chests  of  treasure  for  Bengal ;    these  were  landed  here  as 
only  4  chests  of  treasure  remained  with  which  to  equip  the  China 
ships.      Will  despatch  4  shortly.     Will  send  the   Royal   George  to 
Batavia  for  arrack  and  timber.     Shipping  news. 


*  The  Journal  of  the  Master  of  the   Pembroke  is  printed  among  the  appendices  to 
Cambridge's  History  of  the  11  ar. 


CALENDAR   FOR   1748-1749  71 

Despatch  from  the  Company   to   Charles  Floyer,  etc. 

EAST    INDIA    HOUSE.     MAY    io,  1748.     [Public  Despatches  j rom 
England,  Vol.  52,  pp.  27-28  {Original  2pp.)] 

Send  copy  of  the  Royal  Proclamation  declaring  the  cessation  of 
arms,  under  which  hostilities  are  to  cease  in  the  East  Indies  6 
months  after  April  1930.  The  Company's  ships  are  therefore  to 
be  ordered  to  put  into  St.  Helena  and  then  make  for  the  Downes 
as  was  usual  before  the  War.  Arrival  of  ships.  Are  preparing  to 
despatch  the  Somerset  and  Pelham  for  the  Coromandel  coast  and 
Bengal.  Should  any  men-of-war  be  coming  home  the  Indiamen 
may  be  ordered  to  accompany  them. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Charles  Floyer,  etc. 
EAST  INDIA  HOUSE.  JUNE  17,  1748.  [Public  Despatches  from 
England,  Vol.  52,  pp.  29-37  {Original  9  pp.)) 

Cite  despatch  of  May  10  sent  overland,  with  duplicate  sent  by 
His  Majesty's  ship  Tartar.  The  supercargoes  and  linguist  for  Benjar 
and  China  sail  on  the  Pelham  ;  the  Delawar  with  1 5  chests  of  silver 
and  the  presents  for  the  Sultan  of  Benjar  is  to  be  sent  at  once  to 
Tellicherry  to  take  in  sandalwood.  Send  new  Regulations  *  for 
the  Military  and  Artillery  at  Fort  St.  David.  Cloth  for  their  cloth- 
ing is  to  be  issued  at  prime  cost,  at  8s.  per  pagoda,  at  which  rate 
the  salaries  of  covenanted  servants,  military,  etc.,  are  also  to  be  paid. 
Lawrence  Witherington  entertained  as  Captain-Lieutenant  of  the 
Artillery  Company  and  Director  of  the  Laboratory,  on  £100  a  year 
commencing  from  March  7  last;  also  Henry  Learner  as  First 
Sergeant  of  the  Train  at  2s.  a  day.  George  Mandeville  (supercargo 
for  Benjar  and  China)  permitted  to  take  out  170  yards  of  broad- 
cloth remnants  which  are  to  be  sold  by  the  Council  and  the  produce 
delivered  to  him.  John  Hinde's  estate  may  be  remitted  in  bills  on 
the  Company  at  8s.  the  pagoda.  All  possible  efforts  must  be  made 
to  put  the  investment  in  a  flourishing  way.  If  the  Somerset  and 
Pelham  cannot  be  sent  home  with  cargoes,  they  are  to  bring  saltpetre, 
rice,  etc.,  from  Bengal  for  Fort  St.  David  and  then  be  despatched  to 
China  with  10  chests  of  treasure  each. 

By  the  last  books  received  in  England  there  was  'a  very  hand- 
some balance  '  to  the  credit  of  the  Church  stock  of  Fort  St.  George. 
This  was  established  so  long  ago  that  its  origin  is  unknown,  and 
it  would  now  be  difficult  to  discover  whether  the  gifts  and  legacies 
with  which  it  was  founded  were  devoted  to  a  particular  purpose  or 

*  The  Regulations  are  printed  in  Wilson's  Madras  Army,  i.,  pp.  52, etc.,  and  39,  etc. 


72  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

not  and  whether  the  large  allowances  that  were  paid  to  '  the  poorer 
sort '  at  Madras  had  not  exhausted  the  funds  specially  devoted 
to  that  purpose.  Part  of  the  fund  at  least  arose  from  trade-profits 
made  by  lending  money  at  respondentia,  etc.;  and  before  the 
charter  was  granted  [1726],  it  was  usual  for  the  ministers  and 
Church  wardens  to  take  charge  of  the  estates  of  persons  who  died 
leaving  children  but  no  will ;  after  the  charter  was  granted, 
executors  and  guardians  often  deposited  trust-monies  in  the 
Church  stock,  on  account  of  its  stability,  accounts  being  annually 
produced  before  the  Vestry  ;  on  the  orphans  coming  of  age,  they 
received  their  legacies  with  5  %  interest  (though  the  current 
rate  is  7  or  8  %)  less  5  %  commission  on  the  whole  amount 
due.  Tt  is  said  that  when  the  French  took  Madras,  the  ministers 
and  Churchwardens  destroyed  the  documents,  bonds,  etc.,  which 
they  held,  in  order  to  prevent  them  from  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy ;  but  several  debtors  are  said  to  have  already 
executed  new  bonds,  while  the  rest  are  willing  either  to  do  the 
same  or  pay  what  they  owe.  As  now  there  are  no  ministers  or 
Churchwardens  in  Madras,  the  Company  is  willing  to  receive  all 
outstanding  debts  ;  but  the  greatest  caution  must  be  observed  to 
secure  a  just  distribution  before  any  payments  are  made.  Send  an 
account  of  how  matters  stood  in  1745  ;  this  with  the  help  of  the 
late  Churchwardens  will  probably  permit  the  preparation  of  a 
statement  of  all  debts  and  credits  of  the  Fund;  under  debts  the 
sums  due  to  each  orphan  and  each  charity  should  be  severally 
specified.  Interest  at  5  %  is  to  be  allowed  on  all  sums  paid 
in  on  this  account.  Claims  arising  from  any  orphan  coming  of  age 
may  be  met  in  the  proportion  which  the  total  debts  bear  to  the 
money  paid  in.  It  is  also  reported  that  there  was  another  fund 
(between  5  and  10,000  Pags.)  for  maintaining  a  Charity  school  and 
that  trustees  were  annually  appointed.  All  money  due  to  it  should 
be  collected,  and  information  sent  regarding  its  origin,  employ- 
ment and  amount. 

Absolutely  deny  the  Dutch  claims  to  a  monoply  of  the  opium- 
trade  in  the  Straits  of  Malacca  ;  if  Company's  ships  are  molested, 
Captains  are  to  be  authorized  to  resist  and  make  reprisals.  This 
order  is  to  be  published  as  the  Dutch  are  said  to  have  done  at 
Surat,  etc. 

Government  have  permitted  all  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
Artillery  Company  and  12  Independent  companies  with  Bos- 
cawen  to  join  the  Company's  service  ;  as  many  officers  may  be 
entertained  as  there  are  vacancies  for,  and  as  many  private  men  as 


CALENDAR   FOR    1748  1749  73 

possible  should  be  enlisted.  Men  not  needed  on  the  Coast  may  be 
sent  to  Bengal  or  Bombay.  Only  officers  who  have  behaved  well 
should  be  accepted.  Non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  may 
be  given  a  bounty  of  40  Rs.  on  enlistment,  but  those  who  are 
promoted  on  transfer  must  be  content  with  that  instead  of  any 
bounty.  Major  Goodyere  is  offered  the  post  of  Major  at  Bombay. 
The  Artillery  company  at  Fort  St.  David  is  similarly  to  be  filled  up, 
the  officers  being  selected  by  Floyer,  Lawrence  and  Goodyere  or 
any  two  of  them,  preference  being  given  to  such  of  the  old  gun- 
room crew  as  may  be  fit  for  promotion.  All  those  who  join  the 
Company's  service  must  engage  to  serve  for  5  years  except  Major 
Goodyere  who  is  allowed  an  indefinite  time  before  deciding 
whether  to  quit  His  Majesty's  service.  The  garrison  at  Bombay 
has  been  fixed  at  10  companies  and  that  in  Bengal  at  5  companies 
of  foot,  with  a  company  of  Artillery  at  each  place. 

letter   from    christopher    mole,    secretary   to    the 
Company,  to  Charles  Floyer,  etc.  East  India  House. 

JUNE  22,  1748.     [Public  Despatches  from  England,   Vol.  52,  p.    41 
{Original  I  p.)} 

The  Company  has  been  unable  to  recover  the  money  paid  to 
Belsches  owing  to  the  errors  and  irregularities  of  his  accounts. 
The  like  must  be  prevented  in  future.     Shipping  news. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Charles  Floyer,  etc. 

EAST  INDIA  HOUSE.     JULY  21,   1748.     [Public  Despatches  from 
England,  Vol  52,  p.  43  {Copy  I  p.)] 

Cite  despatch  of  June  17.  Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  despatch, 
dated  September  27,  and  a  letter  from  Floyer,  dated  October  8. 
As  the  troubles  may  be  supposed  to  be  over,  urge  the  need  of 
enlarging  the  investment ;  fine  beteellas  are  in  great  demand.  The 
last  advices  speak  of  Nasir  Jang's  coming  to  help  the  English  ; 
if  he  does,  hope  that  the  Council  will  remonstrate  with  him  about 
the  English  losses  caused  by  want  of  timely  assistance.  Sumatra 
and  shipping. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Charles  Floyer,  etc. 
East  India  House.    December  2,  1748.    [Public   Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  52,  pp.  45-49  {Original  5  pp.)] 
Cite  despatch  of  July  2J.     Have  received  letters  from  Floyer, 
Lawrence  and  Griffin.     Ships' arrivals.     The  conclusion  of  peace. 
All  possible  means  must  be  taken  to  send  as  many  ships  home  as 


74  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

possible,  in  order  to  lighten  the  burden  of  demurrage.  Ships  may 
be  sent  home  with  50,  100  or  even  1 50  tons  of  dead  freight,  and  in 
no  case  is  the  charterparty  tonnage  to  be  exceeded.  4  ships 
to  be  sent  home  with  cargoes  of  pepper  from  Malabar  or  Sumatra. 
Having  considerable  stocks  of  saltpetre,  order  no  more  than  the 
charterparty  kintledge  to  be  put  aboard,  and  ships  with  iron  or 
stone  kintledge-are  to  be  given  none.  As  much  cloth  as  possible 
is  to  be  obtained.  Complaint  of  5  pieces  of  longcloth  being  short 
measure.  Cargoes  should  be  provided  for  4  ships  that  will  call 
at  Fort  St.  David  on  their  way  to  China.  Complaints  of  pieces 
missing  from  the  bales  of  cloth.  This  must  have  been  done  in  the 
warehouse  and  those  who  superintended  the  packing  must  make 
good  the  loss.  Name  Lawrence,  William  Holt  and  Alexander 
Wynch  as  Commissaries  on  the  part  of  the  Company  to  receive 
Madras  ;  if  any  should  be  dead  or  absent,  the  Council  will  fill  up 
their  places.  Madras  will  remain  a  subordinate  settlement  till 
further  orders  ;  as  much  fine  cloth  as  possible  is  to  be  procured 
there  ;  and  bales  of  every  kind  of  muslin  that  the  French  usually 
send  to  Europe  are  to  be  provided.  Now  that  the  War  is  over,  the 
Secret  Committee  will  only  give  directions  about  signals  as  usual. 
If  the  fortifications  at  Fort  St.  David  are  not  completed,  they  should 
be  continued  gradually  and  only  as  far  as  is  absolutely  necessary. 
A  plan  of  the  whole  is  to  be  sent,  and  if  any  alterations  are  pro- 
posed, apian  of  them  likewise,  with  an  estimate  of  the  cost. 
No  new  works  are  to  be  undertaken  till  further  orders.  Instead  of 
sending  ships  home  with  150  tons  of  dead  freight,  they  may  be 
filled  with  '  gruff  goods '  such  as  redwood,  turmeric  and  lac. 
Require  a  plan  of  Fort  St.  George  as  delivered  over  by  the  French  ; 
nothing  is  to  be  spent  on  any  works  there  till  further  orders.  14 
chests  of  treasure  sent  out  for  Boscawen's  use  ;  should  he  have  left 
before  its  arrival,  it  is  to  be  taken  into  the  Company's  treasury 
and  bills  drawn  on  the  Company  in  favour  of  the  Agent,  John 
Calcraft.     Have  just  received  the  despatches  by  the  George  snow. 

DESPATCH  FROM  THE  COMPANY  TO  CHARLES  FLOYER,  ETC. 

East  India  House.    December  21,  1748.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  52,  pp.  51-53  {Original  3  pp.)] 

Have  sent  4  China  ships  with  some  goods  and  bullion 
consigned  to  Fort  St.  David.  They  are  to  be  unladed  with  the 
greatest  despatch  and  sent  on  to  Canton  with  the  bullion,  etc., 
consigned  thither.     As  [much    as   possible   of   the   140  chests   of 


CALENDAR   FOR    1748-1749  75 

treasure  is  to  be  coined  and  sent  to  Bengal.  As  peace  has  been 
made,  it  is  likely  that  many  of  the  Artillery  and  Independents 
under  Boscawen  will  join  the  Company's  service ;  as  many  as 
possible  of  both  them  and  the  marines  are  to  be  got.  Hear  that 
Robert  Wynch  has  been  allowed  to  build  a  house  with  a  handsome 
enclosure  south  of  the  Garden  House  and  too  near  the  Fort.  Forbid 
the  construction  of  any  building  that  would  obstruct  the  defence 
of  the  place.  Will  send  an  Assay-Master  and  Assistant  as  soon 
as  suitable  men  can  be  found.  Will  also  send  communion-plate 
and  books  '  for  the  use  of  your  chapel.'  Have  taken  up  the  Severn 
to  carry  out  stores  for  the  use  of  the  Squadron.  In  spite  of  former 
orders  to  provide  4  cargoes  of  goods  for  China,  nothing  is  to 
be  put  aboard  the  China  ships  unless  it  can  be  done  without 
endangering  their  passage.  The  present  ship  (the  Tavistock) 
will  bring  100  pipes  of  Madeira  wine  for  Fort  St.  David.  She  also 
brings  30  chests  of  treasure  to  be  dealt  with  in  the  same  way  as 
the  140  chests  mentioned  above.  Her  officers  are  allowed  only 
20  pipes  of  wine  in  their  privilege. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Charles  Floyer,  etc. 
East    India  House.    January  4,  1749.     [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  52,  p.  59  {Original  I  />.)] 

Captain  Hugh  Palliser  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Sheerness 
appointed  to  carry  His  Majesty's  orders  to  Boscawen  to  assist  in  the 
mutual  restoration  of  conquests  made  in  the  East  Indies.  Send  60 
chests  of  treasure  on  the  Sheerness.  Palliser  is  to  receive  2%  % 
freight. 

DESPATCH  FROM    THE    COMPANY  TO     CHARLES     FLOYER,  ETC. 

East   India    House.   January  27,  1749.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  52,  pp.  63-69  {Original  7  pp.)} 

This  goes  by  the  Britannia  and  Walpole.  Desire  in  all  future 
advices  the  same  full  account  of  the  Company's  shipping  as  in 
those  under  reply.  Must  give  timely  notice  to  Bengal  of  the 
amount  of  tonnage  that  will  be  needed  for  the  Coast  investment. 
The  present  ships  to  be  forwarded  to  Bengal  with  all  despatch, 
with  as  many  rupees  as  possible  ;  if  coining  takes  too  long,  each 
ship  should  have  in  rupees  and  bullion  £50,000. 

Have  a  thorough  sense  of  Griffin's  services  and  care  for  the 
Company's  interests.  Have  not  been  able  to  comply  with  all  the 
indents  as  the  Company  cannot   send  out   much  tonnage   while  it 


76  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

has  so  much  still  in  India.  It  must  be  a  standing  rule  to  send  on 
to  Bengal  all  the  silver  that  can  be  spared  from  the  Coast;  as 
much  as  possible  should  be  coined.  Send  communion  plate  and 
books  for  the  chapel. 

Much  gratified  with  the  prospect  of  a  good  investment ;  will 
send  plentiful  supplies.  Furnish  a  list  of  what  goods  are  wanted. 
As  many  bales  as  possible  must  be  sent,  even  if  of  inferior  qualities. 
Hope  that  the  merchants  have  by  now  cleared  off  their  balances. 
It  was  fortunate  that  Nasir  Jang  backed  out  of  his  agreement  with 
the  English  and  that  the  300  Pathans  were  not  taken  into  pay. 
A  good  correspondence  should  be  maintained  with  the  Country 
powers,  but  at  as  little  expense  as  possible,  for  they  cannot  be 
depended  on. 

No  grants  of  land  are  in  future  to  be  made  without  stipulating 
that  they  are  to  be  voidable  without  compensation  in  case  buildings 
thereon  should  obstruct  the  defence  of  the  place.  Acquiesce  in  the 
purchase  of  a  house  at  Porto  Novo.  As  the  Dutch  insist  on  main- 
taining their  factory  at  Devanampattanam,  the  Company  can  give 
no  orders  until  it  knows  the  authority  on  which  their  claim  is 
based. 

In  consideration  of  the  probable  recruitment  from  Bosca wen's 
forces,  send  no  recruits  this  year.  The  reasons  for  establishing 
Martial  Law  in  the  garrison  having  ceased,  the  commissions  grant- 
ed for  that  purpose  must  be  annulled.  As  the  Treaty  stipulates 
that  all  books  and  papers  are  to  be  restored,  send  ho  copies  of  the 
Madras  accounts,  as  presumably  the  originals  will  be  obtained. 
The  Troop  of  horse  is  to  be  disbanded  at  once,  as  there  can  be  no 
further  need  of  it.  The  Council  misunderstood  the  orders  regarding 
Lawrence's  salary,  etc.;  confirm  what  has  been  done  in  considera- 
tion of  his  past  and  future  services,  but  no  agreement  made  with 
the  Company  is  in  future  to  be  altered  without  express  permission. 
Gray's  and  Dencker's  claims  will  be  particularly  considered  when 
the  other  Madras  claims  are  decided  on.  All  the  old  Madras 
servants  except  the  late  President  and  Council  may  be  re-enter- 
tained ;  they  will  rank  according  to  their  standing  with  the  rest  of 
the  Coromandel  Coast  establishment  next  under  the  President  and 
Council  appointed  December  24,  1747.  Confirm  Charles  Hopkins' 
appointment  as  Sub-Accountant  with  rank  as  Factor.  The  infor- 
mation given  about  the  Madras  bonds  was  inadequate;  why  were 
several  granted  for  large  sums  after  the  surrender  of  the  place, 
and  what  are  the  other  claims  mentioned  but  not  particularised  ? 
An  exact  and  clear  statement  of  this  affair  is  needed.     Morse  is  to 


CALENDAR   FOR    1748  1749  77 

come  home  by  the  next  shipping;  but  during  his  stay  at  Fort  St. 
David  is  to  be  treated  with  the  respect  due  to  his  late  station.  The 
Madras  writers  sent  out  in  1745  and  1746  who  proceeded  to  Bengal 
are  to  join  the  Coromandel  establishment  with  their  original  rank. 
Have  entertained  Timothy  Tullie  as  a  writer.  David  Lopez 
Fernandes  and  Samuel  de  Castro  permitted  to  reside  in  India  as 
diamond  and  coral  merchants.  John  Walsh,  who  came  to  Eng- 
land after  the  fall  of  Madras  for  the  recovery  of  his  health  is 
allowed  to  return  with  his  old  standing.  James  Wilson  allowed 
to  go  to  India  to  succeed  to  any  vacancy  as  Surgeon  where  he  is 
wanted.  Lieutenant  Eckman,  in  consideration  of  his  age  and  long 
service  is  granted  a  pension  of  150  Pags.  a  year.  The  greatest 
care  must  be  taken  about  the  accounts  relating  to  the  Squadron. 
The  bond  for  5,000  Pags.  granted  by  Morse,  etc.,  to  Michael  de 
Gregorio  on  August  10,  1745,  may  be  paid  off.  Will  send  by 
the  Severn  50  chests  of  silver  to  be  coined  and  sent  to  Bengal. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Charles  Floyer,  etc. 
East  India  House.   March  29,   1749.    [Public   Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  52,  pp.  73-78  (Copy  $U  pp.)] 

The  Swift  snow  arrived  March  3.  This  goes  by  the  Severn, 
which  brings  naval  stores  for  the  Squadron,  for  which  also  80  tons 
of  salt  provisions  have  been  sent  on  the  Bombay  ships.  Send  59 
chests  of  treasure  by  the  Severn  ;  as  much  as  possible  to  be  sent  in 
rupees  to  Bengal.  If  possible  the  Severn  should  be  returned  to 
Europe  the  season  of  her  arrival ;  but  should  be  kept  in  India  if  it  is 
necessary  to  keep  another  besides  the  Walpole,  as  she  is  a  late  ship 
and  demurrage  will  be  less.  Desire  a  list  of  the  sailors  in  the 
Company's  country  ships,  as  relations  of  the  sailors  aboard  the 
Princess  Amelia  and  Princess  Mary  wish  to  know  whether  they  are 
in  the  Company's  service  in  India.  Complain  of  irregular  packing 
in  the  recent  cargoes  of  bales,  and  of  putting  different  sorts  of 
cloth  into  the  same  bale  without  a  cloth  in  between  to  distinguish 
them.  Repeat  previous  demands  for  exact  accounts  of  the  Com- 
pany's quick  stock  in  India.  Have  appointed  Edward  Edwards, 
Factor  and  Assay-Master  on  the  same  salary,  etc.,  that  Foxall  had  ; 
he  is  to  teach  the  art  of  assaying  to  one  of  the  covenanted  servants. 
Norton  Nicholls  permitted  to  reside  in  India  as  a  free  merchant, 
and  Francis  Hodges  and  William  Dogan  as  mariners.  All  servants 
in  stations  usually  held  by  covenanted  servants  must  execute  the 
usual  covenants  and  give  sureties  ;  send  a  list  of  those  who  have 
neglected  to  do  so.     When  any  of  the  junior  servants  come  of  age, 


78  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

they  must  execute  fresh  covenants  ;  and  when  any  one  is  promoted, 
they  must  get  friends  in  England  to  give  the  security  usual  in  their 
new  rank.  The  Company's  business  is  impeded  by  the  neglect 
and  disobedience  of  the  junior  servants,  especially  in  the  Account- 
ant's office ;  those  guilty  of  such  misconduct  must  be  reported  to 
the  Company  for  suitable  punishment  ;  and  future  misbehaviour 
will  be  imputed  to  the  inattention  of  the  President  and  Council. 
An  able  book-keeper  must  be  made  Sub-Accountant;  hope  John 
Duncumbe  will  prove  such.  Have  entertained  the  Rev.  George 
Swynfen  as  a  Chaplain  at  Fort  St.  David  on  the  usual  pay.  Captain 
de  Morgan's  and  Father  Severini's  bonds  will  be  considered  along 
with  the  other  Madras  claims.  Do  not  consider  that  the  charter 
authorizes  the  establishment  of  a  Mayor's  Court  at  Fort  St.  David. 
Trust  the  investment  will  have  proved  larger  than  was  expected. 
The  detention  of  so  much  treasure  at  Fort  St.  David  greatly  hinder- 
ed the  Bengal  investment. 

Note  the  sharp  repulse  of  the  French  at  Cuddalore  by  Law- 
rence's bravery  and  good  conduct.  In  case  of  Lawrence's  death  or 
absence  Captain  Hollond  is  to  succeed  as  Major  with  the  same 
salary,  etc.,  as  a  reward  for  his  gallant  behaviour.  Robert 
Sloper,  reported  to  have  behaved  well  as  a  monthly  writer  at 
Madras,  is  appointed  Factor,  with  rank  from  the  arrival  of  this 
despatch. 

A  resolution  of  a  General  Court  held  on  December  23,  1747,  for- 
bade the  payment  of  any  bonds,  etc.,  granted  at  Madras  since 
August  30,  1746.  Several  persons  having  applied  for  payment  of 
such  bonds,  it  was  resolved  at  a  General  Court  held  on  March  22, 
1749,  that  the  Directors  should  ascertain  in  what  form,  to  whom, 
and  on  what  account  the  loans  were  made,  and  whether  the  Com- 
,  pany  is  liable  for  their  repayment.  A  full,  clear  and  distinct 
account  is  required,  together  with  all  papers  at  Madras  which 
may  bear  on  the  matter. 

It  is  reported  that  gaming  is  prevalent  at  Fort  St.  David  ;  strict 
inquiry  to  be  made,  as  no  trust  can  be  placed  in  persons  addicted 
thereto ;  those  guilty  to  be  reprimanded,  suspended,  or  even  dis- 
missed according  to  the  degree  of  their  guilt. 


THE   MADRAS  DESPATCHES.   1749- 1750. 


Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  David.  August  30,   1749.    [Public  Despatches  to 

England,  Vol.  17,  pp.  43~44  (Copy  1%  pp.)] 

As  a  letter  overland  via  Basra  is  likely  to  reach  England  before 
any  of  the  September  ships,  now  write  by  that  route  to  report  that 
Boscawen  took  possession  of  Fort  St.  George  on  the  21st  to  the 
universal  joy  of  the  late  inhabitants  who  thronged  thither  as  soon 
as  the  English  flag  was  hoisted.  All  French  efforts  failed  to  induce 
them  to  return,  and  the  French  are  mortified  at  the  present  token  of 
attachment  to  the  English.  Its  condition  is  indifferent ;  all  the 
fortifications  are  undermined  and  all  useful  stores  have  been 
carried  off.  The  Griffin,  Sandwich,  Walpole,  Dragon,  Britannia,  and 
Montfort  arrived  outward-bound  between  June  10  and  July  30.  The 
Griffin,  Sandwich  and  Montfort  have  already  been  despatched  for 
China,  as  also  the  Pelham,  Somerset,  Rhoda,  and  Royal  Duke  of  last 
year's  shipping.  The  Walpole  and  the  Britannia  have  already  been 
despatched  with  rupees  for  Bengal,  and  the  Dragon  will  sail  with 
more  in  a  day  or  two.     Other  shipping  news. 


Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  David.  October  9,  1749.  [Public  Despatches  to 
England,  Vol.  17,  pp.  45-57  {Copy  13  PP-)] 

Now  despatch  the  Chesterfield  though  all  the  books  and  papers  are 
not  yet  ready.  Will  write  at  greater  length  by  the  Royal  George 
in  a  few  days.  The  Severn  arrived  on  September  8  and  sailed  short- 
ly for  Madras  to  deliver  her  naval  stores  to  the  Admiral  there.  She 
is  since  reported  as  having  sailed  for  Bengal.  Received  by  her 
despatch  of  March  29.  No  news  of  the  Augusta,  except  that  she 
was  spoken  with  on  June  23  off  Tranquebar.  Send  100  bales  of 
brown  cloth  from  Vizagapatam  which  could  not  be  landed  for  lack 
of  masula  boats,  but  were  put  aboard  the  Chesterfield  in  ships' 
boats.  His  Majesty's  ships  Sheerness  and  Basilisk  have  sailed  for 
the  Cape  to  make  provision  for  the  Squadron's  refreshment  there 
on  its  way  home.     Send  home  William  Holt,  who  is  disordered  in 


80  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

his  senses — the  doctors  say  owing  to  the  heat  of  the  climate.  Also 
send  home  (at  his  own  request)  Hyde  Parker,  late  Ensign  in  the 
Company's  service,  whose  behaviour  caused  the  officers  to  refuse 
rolling  with  him  and  who  was  suspended  on  being  found  by  a  Court 
of  Enquiry  unworthy  of  holding  a  commission.  9,849  Pags.  remitted 
on  account  of  the  estate  of  John  Hinde  by  Charles  Floyer. 

Postscript :  Draw  bills  on  the  Company  for  1,850  Pags. 

Appended  are : — (i)  register  of  diamonds  amounting  to  143,062 
Pags. ;  (2)  manifest  of  sundries  shipped  as  presents  ;  (3)  list  of  the 
packet ;  and  (4)  sailing  orders  for  the  Chesterfield. 

Separate  Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer  to  the  Com- 
pany.   Fort  St.  David.    October  9, 1749.   Received  May 

10,1750.     [Factory  Records,  Fort   St.  David,    Vol  10,   pp.   511-514 
{India  Office  transcript.)] 

This  goes  by  the  Chesterfield.  The  general  letter  is  not  yet 
ready.  All  the  Company's  outward  bound  ships,  except  two,  arriv- 
ed safe,  and  one  so  late  as  July  30.  Six  ships  have  sailed  for  China 
and  one  for  the  Malabar  coast  to  lade  pepper.  Other  shipping 
news.  300  chests  of  bullion  and  rupees  having  been  consigned  to 
Bengal  and  60  more  to  China,  little  is  left  for  the  investment.  The 
Commissaries  (Lawrence.  Wynch  and  Westcott)  left  for  Madras  on 
August  7  to  arrange  for  its  restoration,  followed  by  the  English 
fleet.  On  August  21,  the  place  was  delivered  up  to  Admiral 
Boscawen  in  a  very  bad  condition.  The  walls  and  bastions  were 
all  undermined  and  stores  removed  except  104  unserviceable  guns. 
It  will  take  long  before  the  place  returns  to  its  former  prosperity  ; 
but  it  must  become  the  head  settlement  again,  and  the  sooner  the 
better.  As  Fort  St.  David  lacks  warehouses,  grain  and  stores  have 
to  be  kept  at  Cuddalore  under  tiled  roofs;  and  the  bar  which  only 
opens  for  a  part  of  the  year  allows  the  boats  to  make  only  one  trip 
daily.  On  the  other  hand,  Madras  has  spacious  warehouses  near 
the  beach  and  boats  can  make  6  trips  daily.  The  native  merchants 
have  a  greater  affection  for  that  place  and  will  not  leave  it  to  settle 
here,  They  refused  to  remain  there  under  the  French,  but  returned 
thither  on  its  rendition,  Boscawen  agrees  that  Madras  should  be 
the  Presidency.  The  death  of  the  Nawab  of  Arcot  involved  the 
province  in  trouble,  and  the  investment  will  suffer  unless  the  army 
of  Muzaffar  Jang  and  Chunda  Sahib  should  soon  remove.  At 
present  they  are  near  Pondichery  where  the  French  are  endeavour- 
ing to  prejudice  them  against  us.     As  Nasir  Jang  is  soon  expected, 


CALENDAR   FOR    1749-1750  81 

hopes  that  the  usurpers  will  be  obliged  to  retire.  On  June  12,  with 
Boscawen's  assistance  and  advice,  we  took  Devikottai  about  30  miles 
southward.  It  is  a  strong  fort  situated  in  a  fertile  country  and  has  a 
river  able  to  receive  boats  of  200  tons.  Has  been  put  to  much 
extra  expense  for  maintaining  a  table,  owing  to  the  number  of 
ships  here  and  absence  of  taverns.  Should  not  have  represented 
this  matter  had  there  been  trade  on  this  Coast  since  he  became 
Governor.  Recommends  for  appointment  in  the  Company's  service, 
St.  Paul  who  has  been  Resident  at  Negapatam  and  Secretary  to  the 
Commissaries  at  Madras,  also  James  Bourchier  who  is  writing  in 
the  Secretary's  office. 

Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,   to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  David.    October  18,  1749.    [Public  Despatches  to 

England,  Vol.  17,  pp-  58-61  {Copy  3  pp.)} 
This  despatch  will  be  conveyed  by  Boscawen  who  will  sail 
to-morrow.  Regret  having  to  report  that  in  spite  of  the  peace 
affairs  are  more  embroiled  than  even  during  the  War,  owing  to  the 
artifices  of  Dupleix  who  so  hates  the  English  as  to  be  unable  to 
refrain  from  underhand  acts  of  hostility.  As  soon  as  peace  had 
freed  Dupleix  from  the  fear  of  attack,  Chunda  Sahib  (formerly  a. 
General  of  the  Nawab  on  whose  defeat  he  had  retired  to  the  obscurity 
of  the  mountains  leaving  his  family  at  Pondichery)  began  to  raise 
men  in  order  to  attack  Anwar-ud-din  Khan.  At  first  Dupleix 
pretended  to  have  no  concerns  with  him  ;  but  under  pretext  of 
discharging  his  sepoys  sent  them  all  to  him.  But  as  soon  as 
affairs  reached  a  crisis,  Dupleix  sent  900  of  his  best  Europeans 
with  a  detachment  of  Artillery  to  join  Chunda  Sahib  as  auxiliaries. 
A  battle  then  followed  in  which  the  French  turned  the  scale. 
Anwar-ud-din  was  killed,  and  Chunda  Sahib  proclaimed  himself 
Nawab  on  the  strength  of  an  illegal  farman  granted  by  Muzaffar 
Jang  without  Nasir  Jang's  consent.  He  at  once  granted  to  the 
French  42  villages  of  the  Villiyanallur  country  lying  round  the 
Fort  St.  David's  limits ;  moreover  Covelong  has  been  given  to 
Dupleix  ;  Porto  Novo  to  Madame  Dupleix  ;  Alambarai  to  d'Auteuil, 
his  brother-in-law  ;  and  St-  Thome  to  the  Padre  Antonio  de  la 
Purification,  a  relation  of  Madame  Dupleix ;  so  that  now  the 
French  can  stop  goods  and  provisions  from  entering  Fort  St.  David 
and  Madras.  An  example  of  this  has  already  happened.  The 
Padre  Antonio  forbad  under  the  severest  penalties  any  provisions 
to  be  carried  into  Madras  through  or  out  of  his  dependencies,  with 
other  insults,  until  the  Council  requested  Boscawen's  assistance, 
n 


82  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

The  latter  at  once  made  the  Padre  a  prisoner  and  will  carry  him 
to  England.  Letters  found  in  the  Padre's  house  show  that  Dupleix 
advised  him  to  carry  matters  with  a  fair  face  till  Chunda  Sahib's 
affairs  were  more  settled.  Chunda  Sahib  has  been  for  some  time 
at  Pondichery,  where  a  Train  of  Artillery  is  being  prepared  for 
some  expedition  '  which  is  to  be  wished  from  Mr.  Dupleix's  hint 
to  the  Padre  may  not  be  designed  against  us.'  Cannot  dwell 
longer  on  the  situation  ;  but  Dupleix's  conduct  is  not  such  as  should 
be  followed  by  a  friendly  nation,  and  if  the  Company  thinks 
complaints  should  be  made,  it  may  make  them  at  once.  Boscawen 
has  promised  to  give  all  further  information  and  join  with  the 
Company  in  submitting  complaints,  if  desired.  Father  Rene,  an 
old  resident  of  Madras,  was  suspected  of  acting  treacherously 
towards  the  English  ;  so  Boscawen  has  been  requested  to  carry  him 
to  Europe.  Severini,  the  Superior  of  the  Capuchins  at  Madras, 
was  also  thought  to  have  been  in  the  French  interest,  but,  having 
been  exonerated  by  the  letters  found  with  Father  Antonio,  has 
been  allowed  to  reside  at  a  little  church  just  outside  the  Town. 
Francis  Coyle  de  Barnewall  and  Quentin  de  LaMettrie  having 
behaved  ungenerously  to  the  English,  were  arrested  with  a  view 
to  being  sent  to  Europe,  but,  on  their  giving  bail  for  £20,000,  have 
been  released  and  allowed  to  wait  until  the  January  shipping. 
The  houses  of  those  persons  who  forfeited  English  protection  by 
continuing  to  reside  at  Madras  under  the  French,  have  been 
confiscated,  as  also  the  Roman  Catholic  churches  within  the 
Madras  limits.  Although  the  Company  had  sent  no  directions 
about  these  matters,  nevertheless  such  action  was  deemed  necessary ; 
hope  it  will  be  approved.  As  only  200  of  the  Independents  were 
at  first  willing  to  enlist,  have  been  forced  to  entertain  as  Captains, 
4  Lieutenants,  on  condition  that  they  brought  their  men  with 
them.  Have  now  500  recruits  and  4  companies  more  than  were 
sanctioned  in  the  recent  Regulations  ;  but  even  so  there. will  not  be 
men  enough  to  complete  all  the  Company's  garrisons  in  India. 
Have  enlisted  about  30  good  men  of  His  Majesty's  Train. 
Boscawen  brings  a  plan  of  Devikottai. 

Separate  Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer  to  the  Com- 
pany.    Fort  St.   David.    October  30,  1749-     Received 

MAY    10,    1750.      [Factory   Records,    Fort   St.    David,    Vol.    10, 
pp.  525-527  (India  Office  transcript.)] 
Writing  work  was  so  heavy  of  late  that  the  Royal  George  has  had 
to  be  detained  till   now.    Desire  the  Company  to  send  out  more 


CALENDAR    FOR    1749  1750  83 

covenanted  servants.  Shipping  news.  On  October  25,  Muzaffar 
Jang  and  Chunda  Sahib,  reinforced  with  1,000  French  soldiers  and 
a  Train  of  Artillery,  marched  inland  to  oppose  Nasir  Jang.  But  as 
the  usurpers  need  money  to  pay  their  troops,  hopes  they  may  soon 
disperse.  The  French  risk  much  in  sending  their  men  so  far 
away  at  this  time  of  the  year.  Owing  to  these  troubles,  (weavers 
have  fled  for  safety  to  the  seaports  and  little  cloth  can  be  obtained 
between  November  and  January.  Will  do  his  best  to  get  the 
weavers  at  work  again  as  soon  as  the  usurpers  have  gone.  Have 
only  751  bales  on  hand.  Encloses  returns  of  the  military  on  the 
Coast.  Including  499  men  enlisted  from  the  King's  troops  and 
including  the  Bombay  detachment,  we  have  only  797  European 
privates,  whereas  it  is  credibly  stated  that  there  are  1,800  Euro- 
peans at  Pondichery.  Lawrence  is  about  to  return  from  Madras 
to  reorganise  the  companies  and  reduce  the  topasses.  No  new 
works  will  be  taken  up  without  the  Company's  sanction.  Is  unable 
to  send  a  plan  of  the  outworks  of  Fort  St.  David  as  Delavaux  has 
deserted  and  as  Dumarchais,  the  only  other  person  fit  to  take  his 
place,  went  to  Madras  to  declare  what  stores  had  been  carried 
away  since  October  and  only  returned  here  lately. 


Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  David.  November  2,  1749.  [Public  Despatches 
to  England,  Vol.  1 7,  pp.  61-97  {Copy  37  pp.)] 

Now  reply  to  despatches  of  May  I0(?),  June  17,  July  21,  and 
December  2  and  21,  1748,  and  January  4  and  27,  and  March  29, 
1749.  Have  despatched  7  ships  to  China  this  year.  In  April 
the  Chesterfield  was  despatched  to  Madagascar  for  coffrees,  but 
returned  in  September  with  only  34.  By  Floyer's  orders  a  new 
sloop,  the  Cuddalore,  of  70  tons  was  built  at  Bombay,  mainly  to  serve 
as  an  advice-ship  to  the  Squadron  ;  she  will  now  be  sent  to  Sumatra 
where  the  Louisa  is  thought  to  have  been  lost.  Other  shipping 
news.  Difficulties  in  disposing  of  the  ships  owing  to  a  shortage  of 
pepper  at  Tellicherry  owing  to  heavy  rains  and  in  Sumatra  owing 
to  an  epidemic  of  small-pox.  Have  sent  the  Fort  St.  George  to 
Madagascar  for  more  coffrees  (under  Henry  Collins  who  is  thought 
fit  to  manage  a  voyage  of  that  sort)  as  a  number  of  them  would  be 
very  useful.  Will  do  all  that  is  possible  to  lighten  the  charges  of 
demurrage,  though  the  investments  have  been  hindered  in  all 
parts. 


84  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Have  taken  every  opportunity  of  sending  treasure  to  Bengal, 
and  have  assisted  that  presidency  to  the  utmost,  though  the 
Council  there  appear  to  think  otherwise  ;  for  not  content  with  the 
treasure  sent,  they  have  been  drawing  bills  on  Fort  St.  David  (one 
for  so  large  a  sum  as  Rs.  50,000).  These  have  been  discharged, 
but  for  security's  sake  have  been  obliged  to  draw  bills  on  Bengal 
for  a  like  sum.  Bombay  was  unable  to  supply  sandalwood  for  the 
China  market,  but  300  candies  of  tin  were  bought  here  and  sent. 
Most  of  the  redwood  provided  for  Bengal  still  lies  at  Durgarayapat- 
nam,  as  the  Europe  shipping  arrived  too  late  to  call  for  it ;  hope  to 
be  able  to  send  it  up  in  January.  In  order  to  help  filling  up  the 
tonnage,  the  Bombay  Council  sent  231  bales  of  Surat  piece-goods, 
200  bales  of  cotton,  and  355  maunds  of  Surat  patchak  ;  they  also 
ordered  all  spare  pepper,  cardamums  and  Anjengo  cloth  to  be  sent 
round  from  the  Malabar  coast.  However  only  some  pepper  has 
been  received  thence,  with  some  timber  that  was  greatly  needed. 
Received  no  invoice  of  the  Dragon's  treasure,  but  it  turned  out  at 
£58,716.  Linga  Chetti  has  agreed  to  take  the  broadcloth  sent  out 
this  year  at  the  usual  rate  of  30  %  on  the  invoice.  In  the  storm 
there  was  lost  or  destroyed  770  bags  of  rice  aboard  ship,  with  3% 
garse  which  was  in  an  open  banksall  and  about  60  tons  of  redwood. 
Some  broadcloth  and  stores  have  been  sent  up  to  Madras  for  lack 
of  godowns  at  Fort  St.  David.  The  Madeira  on  the  Tavistock  was 
overcarried  to  Bengal  and  has  not  yet  been  received.  Send  state- 
ment of  quick  stock  as  required. 

The  usual  merchants  have  been  concerned  in  the  investments; 
but  prices  have  had  to  be  raised,  the  merchants  agreeing  to 
provide  cloth  as  good  as  the  musters  of  1743-44  at  the  rates 
paid  in  that  year.  Linga  Chetti  and  Kumarappa  have  again 
provided  the  fine  goods  ;  no  reduction  of  price  could  be  got  on 
them.  Have  as  yet  received  but  510  bales  from  the  Northern 
factories,  as  the  Tryal  snow  on  which  treasure  was  sent  for  Vizaga- 
patam  overshot  that  port;  but  it  is  still  hoped  that  more  bales  will 
be  received  in  January.  Will  send  in  January  the  chay  goods 
demanded  in  the  last  list  of  the  investment ;  they  are  being  provid- 
ed by  Linga  Chetti  and  Tirumangalam  Kumarappa.  Regarding 
the  balances  due  from  the  Madras  merchants,  most  of  the  debtors 
have  returned  to  Madras,  and  the  servants  there  will  endeavour  to 
recover  their  debts. 

The  condition  of  the  country  till  recently  was  tranquil  and  the 
promise  of  trade  good  ;  but  now  the  whole  province  is  in  confusion, 
owing  to  the  death  of  Nizam-ul-mulk,  who  left  a  son,  Nasir  Jang, 


CALENDAR   FOR  1749-1750  85 

and  a  grandson  '  Mustapha  Jing.'  The  latter  at  once  claimed  the 
succession  ;  but,  Nasir  Jang  not  agreeing  to  this,  he  quitted  Nasir 
Jang's  army  and  collected  a  force  of  32,000  men.  He  then  met 
with  Chunda  Sahib,  who  had  been  lately  released  by  the  Marathas 
after  8  years'  imprisonment,  and  had  come  with  a  small  force  to 
plunder  in  these  parts  in  order  to  collect  his  ransom-money.  These 
two  joined  to  invade  the  Carnatic,  where  they  defeated  and  slew 
Anwar-ud-din  with  the  help  of  a  body  of  French  sent  by  Dupleix. 
The  victors,  having  halted  at  Arcot  to  settle  the  province,  pro- 
ceeded to  Pondichery,  where  Dupleix  gave  them  a  grand  reception. 
They  remained  there  6  weeks  ;  every  day  there  was  news  of  some 
new  grant  or  privilege ;  and  they  laid  their  schemes  for  the  comple- 
tion of  their  enterprise.  The  English  have  never  inclined  to  side 
with  them  or  acknowledge  their  authority,  knowing  it  to  be  usurped 
and  certain  to  be  overthrown.  Are  sure  from  the  inveterate  hatred 
of  the  French  for  the  English  that  Dupleix  has  been  instigating 
Chunda  Sahib  to  attack  us.  He  has  already  demanded  the  imme- 
diate restitution  of  St.  Thome  which  we  were  forced  to  occupy  in 
order  to  prevent  the  French  from  building  a  fort  and  making  a 
settlement  there,  which  would  have  ruined  the  trade  of  Madras,  and 
enabled  the  French  constantly  toobserve  all  our  transactions.  Acted 
in  this  matter  with  Boscawen's  advice  and  concurrence.  Dupleix 
had  procured  a  farman  from  Chunda  Sahib  for  Father  Antonio  de  la 
Purification  to  act  as  Havildar  there  ;  and  the  latter's  papers  (now 
in  Boscawen's  possession)  prove  what  schemes  were  on  foot  against 
the  English.  Chunda  Sahib  has  as  yet  entered  on  no  hostilities 
against  us,  and  if  Dupleix  stood  neutral  would  probably  undertake 
none.     Have  posted  men  in  all  the  redoubts  to  prevent  a  surprise. 

Muzaffar  Jang  and  Chunda  Sahib  were  reported  to  have  left 
Pondichery  September  25,  since  when  they  have  been  '  hovering 
about '  in  these  parts  with  1,400  French  soldiers  and  some  Artillery  ; 
hope  they  do  not  mean  to  attack  Fort  St.  David  ;  it  is  more  likely 
that  they  intend  to  attack  Trichinopoly,  where  is  Muhammad  Ali, 
Anwar-ud-din's  son,  who  is  scraping  together  all  the  men  he  can  in 
order  to  recover  the  principality.  If  Chunda  Sahib  does  not  speedily 
take  Trichinopoly  with  Muhammad  Ali's  '  inestimable  treasure  ', 
Nasir  Jang  will  come  to  the  latter's  assistance  and  drive  Chunda 
Sahib  out  of  the  country.  Nasir  Jang  is  credibly  reported  to  be 
already  on  the  way  hither.  If  he  does  not  relieve  us  from  the  pre- 
sent yoke,  the  prospect  of  the  future  is  dismal.  Have  been  very 
cautious  not  to  espouse  either  side  ;  but  in  consideration  of  Muham- 
mad Ali's  former  services,  the  justice  of  his  cause,  and  his  frequent 


86  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

demands  for  assistance,  when  the  sepoys  were  dismissed,  7000I*  them 
were  ordered  to  Devikottai,  with  an  officer  and  30  men  to  keep  them 
together,  whence  they  were  sent  up  to  Trichinopoly.  Have  also 
sent  thither  a  few  small  cannon  and  some  cohorns.  The  purpose 
of  this  is  to  convince  him  of  our  goodwill,  in  the  event  of  his 
recovering  the  province.  Do  not  intend  to  do  more.  He  has  granted 
a  farman  for  St.  Thome  in  consequence  of  which  the  English 
colours  were  hoisted  there  on  October  II.  The  situation  of  affairs 
demanding  the  best  information  about  the  Country  powers,  and 
Haji  Hadi  having  constantly  supplied  accurate  news  about  Country 
affairs  since  the  capture  of  Madras,  without  pay  save  for  a  present 
of  1,500  Rs.,  resolved  to  give  him  500  Pags.  and  an  allowance  of  100 
Pags.  a  month,  so  long  as  his  intelligence  was  required.  Expect 
this  to  be  but  for  a  few  months. 

The  late  Poligar  of  Madras  applied  for  reappointment  on  its 
rendition.  As  Malraja  had  formerly  received  an  eighth  of  the 
Poligar's  fees  and  behaved  with  great  credit  during  the  French  War 
as  a  Commander  of  peons,  it  was  proposed  to  reappoint  the  old 
Poligar  on  condition  of  his  allowing  Malraja  one-fourth  of  his  fees. 
This  offer  was  rudely  rejected  ;  so  Malraja  was  made  Poligar.  On 
this  the  other  pleaded  that  he  had  a  cowie  granting  the  office  to  him 
and  his  heirs  for  ever;  but  all  such  grants  were  undoubtedly 
determined  by  the  capture  of  Madras. 

In  consideration  of  various  advantages,  a  majority  of  the  Board 
resolved  to  take  by  force  of  arms  the  town  of  Devikottai,  35  miles 
south  of  Fort  St.  David.  It  has  a  fine  river  close  beside  it,  and  its 
ground  is  fertile  ;  when  its  bounds  are  properly  settled,  it  should 
produce  a  revenue  of  10,000  Pags.  a  year  ;  even  now  it  is  let  for 
4,000  Pags.  for  6  months.  Expect  the  expenses  of  the  expedition 
to  be  paid  by  the  King  of  Tanjore,  from  whom  50,000  Rs.  have 
already  been  received.  A  more  particular  account  will  be  given  by 
Floyer  and  Boscawen. 

The  works  are  still  unfinished,  partly  owing  to  lack  of  materials 
and  workmen,  but  mainly  owing  to  the  loss  of  our  Engineer,  Dela- 
vaux  ;  have  been  reduced  to  appoint  Hugh  McLean  (a  bricklayer 
who  came  out  in  the  military  and  reckoned  sober  and  diligent) 
Overseer,  and  trust  everything  to  him  and  the  Lieutenant  of  the 
Train.  The  horn  work  is  complete  ;  the  lunettes  are  half-finished. 
Fort.  St.  George  will  have  to  be  totally  re-fortified  ;  all  the  walls  and 
bastions  are  likely  to  fall  in  the  next  monsoon,  are  beyond  repair 
and  incapable  of  bearing  cannon  according  to  His  Majesty's  Engi- 
neers and  the  bricklayers.     Have  been  obliged  to  disobey  orders  so 


CALENDAR    FOR    1749  1750  87 

far  as  to  complete  a  platform  begun  by  the  French  and  necessary 
to  the  security  of  the  place;  hope  to  send  a  plan  and  estimate  of 
the  work  in  January.  Boscawen  says  he  has  an  exact  plan  of  the 
place  and  will  show  it  to  the  Company.  The  Freneh  having  left 
only  4  serviceable  cannon  at  Madras,  had  to  get  as  many  from 
the  Squadron  as  Boscawen  would  spare.  The  information  given 
the  Company  about  Wynch's  house  at  Fort  St.  David  is  unjust ;  it  is 
2,170  yards  from  the  covered  way  and  at  least  1,000  beyond 
Delavaux'  pillars. 

To  encourage  inhabitants  to  return  to  Madras,  have  taken  off 
all  duties  for  6  months  except  those  on  goods  imported  from 
Europe.  The  villages  have  been  let  as  follows  :— Tiruvottiyur,  etc., 
for  1,300  Pags.  (old  rent  1,250  Pags.) ;  Egmore,  etc.,  for  1,400  (old 
rent  1,250  Pags.) ;  and  Perambur,  etc.,  for  700  (old  rent  650  Pags.). 

William  Holt,  suspended  and  sent  home,  has  been  replaced  in 
Council  by  Thomas  Cooke.  Of  the  Madras  servants,  Goodwin, 
Fowke,  Boddam,  Powney,  Greenhaugh  and  Jones  have  absolutely 
rejected  the  Company's  offer  of  re-entertainment,  presumably 
because  they  are  senior  to  some  now  in  Council.  Francis  Fordyce 
having  complained  of  being  assaulted  by  Robert  Clive,  an  enquiry 
was  made,  which  showed  that  Fordyce  had  given  great  provocation 
by  aspersing  Give's  character.  As  he  has  also  abused  Floyer  and 
all  the  Councillors,  is  aggressive  and  meddling,  and  neglects  his 
office  especially  in  burying  deceased  soldiers  and  sailors,  he  has 
been  suspended.  Clive  '  is  generally  esteemed  a  very  quiet  person 
and  noways  guilty  of  disturbances.'  Have  appointed  in  the  place 
of  Fordyce,  Robert  Palk,  Boscawen's  Chaplain  and  recommended 
by  him. 

Have  sent  Alexander  Baird,  who  was  Resident  at  Pulicat,  to  be 
Assistant  at  Ingeram.  Thomas  Cooke  has  been  appointed  Military 
Paymaster;  Henry  Cope  was  made  Military  Storekeeper;  but,  he 
dying  before  he  had  taken  charge,  John  Pybus  was  appointed. 
Being  in  great  need  of  writing  assistants,  have  entertained  James 
Bourchier  and  Peter  St.  Paul  as  monthly  writers,  and  recommend 
them  for  admission  as  covenanted  servants.  Morse  will  go  home 
by  the  January  shipping;  applied  to  him  for  information  about 
Madras  but  he  could  give  little.  On  the  news  of  peace  the 
Residents  were  recalled  from  the  Dutch  Settlements.  Made  Jones 
a  present  for  the  accurate  information  he  supplied  to  Floyer  during 
his  12  months'  residence  at  Tranquebar.  John  Pybus  has  been 
given  an  allowance  of  20  Pags.  a  month  in  consideration  of  the 
great  labour  involved  in  the  post  of  Military  Storekeeper.    As  Holt 


88  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

had  been  suspended,  Foss  Westcott  was  appointed  in  his  stead. 
Joint  Commissary  to  receive  Madras  Lawrence  and  Wynch  first 
visited  Dupleix  to  settle  the  time  and  manner  of  the  delivery  of  the 
place,  after  which,  they  proceeded  to  Madras  where  they  carried 
out  their  orders. 

In  March,  according  to  the  Company's  new  Regulations,  formed 
the  Military  into  7  companies  (of  which  one  Grenadier)  com- 
manded by  : — Major  Lawrence,  and  Captains  Crompton,  Southby, 
John  Scrimsour,  James  Cope,  John  Dalton  (Grenadier  Company),  and 
John  Clarke.  As  Boscawen  and  Lawrence  considered  these  com- 
panies barely  sufficient  to  garrison  Fort  St.  David  and  Cuddalore, 
it  has  been  decided  to  continue  the  garrison  at  Vizagapatam  as  an 
extraordinary  company  under  command  of  Captain  Peter  Love. 
The  Artillery  Company  is  still  incomplete.  As  the  pay  allowed  by 
the  Company  is  rather  less  than  that  in  the  King's  service,  offered 
to  allow  each  gunner  ^d.  a  day  extra,  and  to  pay  each  matross  Is. 
a  day  ;  but  only  got  26  men.  Witherington  and  Learner  have  been 
detained  in  Bengal.  All  the  Lieutenants  entertained  here  were 
mariners  who  were  promised  the  choice  of  returning  to  their  old 
occupation  or  continuing  in  the  Artillery.  Since  the  peace,  Burman 
and  Petch  have  resigned,  the  first  to  command  the  Brilliant  and 
the  second  the  Cuddalore  sloop;  Hugh  Flinn  died  March  9;  and 
Henry  Collins  has  been  sent  supercargo  on  the  Fort  St.  George  to 
Madagascar,  as  her  Captain  could  not  be  trusted  with  such  an 
expedition.  So  there  now  remain  only  Thomas  Savage  and  Mons. 
Dumarchais  to  manage  the  Company.  The  latter  is  a  Protestant, 
recommended  by  Boscawen.  For  some  unknown  reason  Delavaux 
deserted  to  Pondichery  on  May  24,  and  is  said  to  have  sailed  for 
Manilla.  He  had  a  little  before  obtained  leave  to  retire  for  a  time 
under  the  plea  of  ill-health,  and  was  throughout  indulgently  treated. 
It  is  thought  that  he  deserted  owing  to  his  having  killed  one  of 
His  Majesty's  subjects  by  an  unhappy  accident. 

On  Lawrence's  strenuous  advice,  have  entertained  topasses  at 
lOd.  a  day,  in  order  to  relieve  Europeans  of  duty  in  the  violent  heat 
and  in  consideration  of  the  smallness  of  the  garrison.  The  new 
rates  of  pay  under  the  Regulations  were  introduced  from  March  I 
and  well  received.  Have  made  various  promotions  in  the  Military. 
By  the  first  attempt  to  enlist  men  out  of  the  Independents,  etc.,  only 
56  were  obtained  ;  and  by  the  second  only  80  more.  Then,  as  the 
Squadron  was  about  to  sail,  and  as  the  inhabitants  of  Madras  were 
clamorous  for  more  protection,  Major  Lawrence  and  Foss  Westcott 
who  were  in  charge  of  Madras  and  had  no  time  to  refer  the  matter 


CALENDAR   FOR   1749-1750  89 

to  Fort  St.  David,  agreed  to  promise  commissions  as  Captain  to 
4  Lieutenants  and  to  take  one  Lieutenant  and  one  Ensign  into 
each  company  ;  this  secured  4  companies  of  men,  and  raised 
the  total  number  recruited  to  500.  But  none  of  these  can  be  spared 
for  Bengal  or  Bombay,  in  case  of  war  either  in  Europe  or  with  the 
Country  powers.  Desire  further  reinforcements,  reasons  for  which 
will  be  shown  in  the  private  letters  from  Floyer  and  Lawrence. 
None  of  the  mariners  would  enlist,  as  most  have  large  '  off-reckon- 
ings'  due  in  Europe.  Resolved  to  dismiss  all  the  Troop  but  50 
whom  Boscawen  wished  to  attend  him  to  Madras  ;  but  the  troubles 
in  the  country  have  since  made  it  unwise  to  dismiss  them.  The 
recruits  from  the  Independents  have  been  clothed,  being  in  great 
need  of  it ;  but  as  the  off-reckonings  for  the  remainder  of  the  year 
will  not  be  enough  to  cover  the  expense,  it  has  been  done  on 
the  Company's  account.  Captain  Henry  William  Southby  has 
resigned.  Have  paid  Lieutenant  Peter  Eckman  the  pension 
appointed  by  the  Company,  but  believe  him  undeserving  of  it, 
having  heard  from  various  persons  of  his  misbehaviour*  at  the  siege 
of  Madras.  As  soon  as  Lawrence  returns  from  Madras,  the  late 
Madras  servants  now  in  the  Military  shall  be  required  to  choose 
the  service  in  which  they  will  remain. 

Edwards  and  Swinfen  arrived  last  month  by  the  Severn,  and 
have  been  entertained  together  with  Walsh  and  Sloper.  Lack 
a  Sub- Accountant ;  desired  to  appoint  Sloper  to  that  office,  but  he  is 
at  present  too  much  engaged  in  extricating  himself  from  '  many 
different  services  '  to  be  able  to  undertake  that  employment.  The 
present  incumbent,  John  William  Speck,  seems  able  to  do  little 
more  than  take  care  of  the  papers  and  see  that  the  assistants 
attend  to  their  work. 

Have  appointed  Richard  Prince,  Deputy  Governor,  and  Richard 
Starke,  John  Smith,  William  Smyth  King,  and  John  Walsh  of 
Council,  at  Madras.  They  will  proceed  thither  shortly,  as  an 
investment  may  soon  be  begun  there  and  it  promises  again  to  be  a 
place  of  great  trade.  The  fine  goods,  etc.,  made  thereabouts  must 
be  bleached  and  sorted  there,  as  conveniences  are  lacking  at  Fort 
St.  David  ;  and  this  was  always  better  done  at  Madras.  Advise 
that  it  be  again  made  the  Presidency ;  there  is  a  lack  of  store- 
houses at  Fort  St.  David,  and  the  Company's  goods,  etc.,  have  to  be 
kept  under  tiled  roofs  at  Cuddalore  a  mile  away ;  also  the  river 
being  much  choked  up  and  the  bar  open  but  a  third  of  the  year, 

*  For  Ecktnan's  vindication,'see  Love's  Vestiges  ii,  p.  355. 
12 


90  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

the  boats  can  make  but  one  trip  a  day  ;  moreover  the  merchants 
and  conicoplies  have  to  live  at  a  distance  from  Fort  St.  David; 
whereas  at  Madras  there  are  commodious  warehouses  close  to  the 
beach,  the  boats  in  good  weather  make  6  or  8  trips  a  day,  the 
merchants  live  near  the  Fort,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Madras  will 
not  remove  to  Fort  St.  David.  Boscawen  concurs  in  these  views. 
Believe  it  will  be  necessary  to  suspend  the  customs  there  for  a 
further  period  of  6  months,  as  the  greater  part  of  the  first  period 
will  fall  in  the  monsoon  when  little  business  can  be  done  ;  shall 
not  let  out  the  monopolies  for  the  present  either.  Have  ordered 
that  no  '  black  inhabitant '  of  Madras  be  molested  for  one  year  on 
account  of  any  debt  contracted  before  the  loss  of  that  place. 

Robert  Sloper  appointed  Searcher  at  Cuddalore.  Andrew  Munro 
reinstated  as  Surgeon  at  Madras.  Have  entertained  James  Wilson 
at  Devikottai  to  supply  the  place  of  the  Surgeon's  mate  who  has 
been  obliged  by  sickness  to  return  here.  Greatly  distressed  for 
want  of  writing  assistants.  Will  check  all  gaming,  but  are  not 
aware  of  its  having  been  practised  here  for  a  long  while  past ;  the 
Company's  information  must  be  inaccurate. 

Have  not  yet  been  able  to  get  the  Madras  books  required  by 
the  Company.  Hope  to  do  so  in  January.  Send  the  Madras 
Consultations  up  to  'the  31  June'  [sic]  1746,  and  the  cash  accounts 
from  then  to  February  1747.  Regarding  the  Squadron  accounts, 
refer  to  a  letter  from  Morse^  Prince,  Wynch  and  Westcott  were 
appointed  to  examine  into  the  Church  and  Charity  stocks;  they 
report  that  the  debtors  are  unwilling  to  pay  until  legal  authority 
has  been  obtained  for  giving  due  acquittances.  Have  discharged 
Coja  Miguel's  bond.  Gold  and  pagodas  being  very  scarce,  and  the 
value  of  rupees  falling  daily,  have  made  rupees  current  at  350  per 
100  Pags.    at  which  rate  payments  and   receipts  have  been  made 

since  May  I.  \ 

Sumatra  affairs. 

Received  the  news  of  peace  with  unspeakable  satisfaction. 
The  proclamation  was  made  with  all  due  form  on  September  25. 
4  ships  have  reached  Pondichery  from  Europe  this  season,  3  of 
which  are  said  to  have  left  most  of  their  cargoes  at  Mauritius. 
Boscawen  sailed  for  Europe  October  19  in  His  Majesty's  ship 
Exeter  with  the  York,  Deptjord,  Chester,  Harwich,  El t ham,  Deal 
Castle  and  Young  Eagle.  There  remain  in  India  under  Commodore 
Lisle  the  Vigilant,  Ruby,  Tartar,  Syren  and  Stvallow  snow.  The 
Vigilant  sailed  to  the  eastward  October  21 ;  the  Swallow  has  gone  to 
Bengal ;  and  the  rest  to  Bombay. 


CALENDAR   FOR    1749-1750  91 

Supplement:  Have  received  on  the  Company's  account  the 
guns  salved  from  the  Winchelsea  and  Lincoln.  Have  referred  to  the 
Company  Captain  Lindsay's  demand  for  dieting  sick  military  at 
the  Cape.  Allowed  8  Pags.  a  month  each  to  the  officers  of 
the  Winchelsea  and  Lincoln  until  they  got  passages  for  Europe. 
Samuel  Worral,  being  detected  in  a  correspondence  with  Dupleix 
and  intending  to  desert,  has  been  cashiered  and  is  now  sent  home. 
Some  of  the  debtors  to  the  Church  Stock  now  report  that,  should  a 
vestry  be  re-established  at  Madras  and  regular  church  wardens 
appointed,  they  will  pay  what  they  owe.  Will  order  this  to  be  done 
if  most  of  the  debtors  agree.  Pero,  Hockett  and  Merriman  were 
entertained  as  Lieutenants  of  Artillery  (being  well  recommended 
as  duly  qualified)  just  before  the  Squadron  sailed.  Cannot  dis- 
cover any  other  title  of  the  Dutch  to  their  factory  at  Devanampat- 
tanam  than  a  verbal  agreement  said  to  have  been  made  by 
Governor  Yale.  Have  granted  certificates  for  13,961  Pags.  Have 
laded  on  this  ship  1,200  bales  with  pepper  and  redwood  ;  cargo 
invoiced  at  153,377  Pags. 

Appended  are  : — (l)  register  of  diamonds,  etc.,  amounting  to 
4,904  Pags.  ;  (2)  list  of  the  packet  ;  and  (3)  sailing  orders  for  the 
Royal  George. 

Separate  Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer  to  the  Com- 
pany. Fort  St.  David.  February  7,  1750.  Received 
MAY  8,  1 75 1.  [Factory  Records,  Fort  St.  David,  Vol.  10,  pp.  649- 
652  {India  Office  transcript.)] 

This  goes  by  the  Elizabeth.  Have  now  sent  4,200  bales  of  which 
231  came  from  Bombay,  and  the  remainder  are  Coast  goods.  Since 
March  I,  the  merchants  have  brought  in  2,243  bales  ;  would  have 
brought  in  more  could  money  have  been  advanced  them.  Consi- 
dering the  troubles,  trust  that  the  Company  will  be  satisfied. 
Cannot  judge  what  the  new  investment  will  be  like,  but  it  shall 
be  as  large  as  possible,  and  the  Northern  settlements  shall  be  well 
supplied  with  money.  Are  sure  that  the  Company  will  approve  of 
the  quality  sent  this  season.  It  was  impossible  to  bleach  the  whole 
for  want  of  people  and  godowns.  The  latter  were  pulled  down  in 
the  late  troubles,  and  will  not  be  rebuilt  until  the  Company  have 
decided  where  the  Presidency  is  to  be  located.  Shipping  news. 
The  Lapwing  arrived  on  January  16,  having  lost  16  men  and  the 
rest  of  the  crew  being  very  ill  with  scurvy.  After  a  few  days' 
stay  to  refresh  them,  she  sailed  to  Bengal  on  January  30,  with  all 
the  80  chests   of  her  silver   coined  into   rupees.     Doubt  if   Bengal 


92  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

will  be  able  to  lade  her  home  this  season.  If  she  is  returned  here, 
she  shall  be  sent  home  with  bales  in  May.  In  December  last, 
Major  Lawrence  returned  from  Madras.  He  will  report  on  the 
military  requirements  both  at  Madras  and  here.  Desire  some 
writers,  soldiers  and  one  or  two  engineers.  The  last  are  needed 
to  carry  on  the  works  regularly.  At  present  there  is  only  one,  and 
as  he  is  indisposed,  it  has  been  impossible  to  prepare  the  plan  of 
the  Fort  St.  David  out-works  to  have  been  sent  by  the  present 
ship.  La  Mettrie  andBarnewall  sailed  on  a  French  ship  for  Europe 
on  February  4,  intending  to  prosecute  the  Company  and  the 
Council  here  for  expelling  them  from  Madras.  3  French  ships 
sailed  for  Europe  from  Pondichery.  Have  not  been  able  to  get 
details  of  her  cargo,  but  are  sure  they  have  not  more  than  two  lakhs 
of  Coast  goods.  They  have  lately  advanced  their  mer- 
chants a  lakh  of  rupees.  Lisle  has  left  Achin  for  the  Nicobars  to 
get  provisions.  He  intended  to  proceed  thence  to  the  Straits 
of  Malacca  where  he  will  be  joined  by  the  Swallow  snow.  His 
Majesty's  ships  Syren,  Ruby  and  Tartar  have  reached  Bombay.  The 
Restoration  grab  was  seized  by  Angria's  fleet  off  Gheria  in  October 
last. 

Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  David.  February  12,  1750.  [Public  Despatches  to 
England,  Vol.  1 7,  pp.  99~I43  (Copy  45  PP-)\ 

The  Lapwing  arrived  on  January  16,  with  the  despatch  of 
August  30.  The  Elizabeth  returned  on  December  25,  after  win- 
tering at  Achin,  where  she  left  Lisle  in  the  Vigilant.  On  December 
26  the  Augusta  arrived  unexpectedly  from  Malacca  with  news  that 
all  the  China  ships  had  passed  that  port.  The  Lapwing's  crew  was 
so  sickly  that  she  only  sailed  on  January  29  with  orders  to  call  at 
Madras  to  land  her  private  consignments  there.  All  her  silver 
was  replaced  by  rupees.  Have  written  to  Bengal  that  in  case  she 
cannot  be  laded  thence  this  season  she  should  be  sent  to  Fort  St. 
David,  whence  she  can  be  laded  home  in  May.  As  the  Fort  St. 
George  has  been  despatched  to  Madagascar,  it  seemed  needless  to 
send  the  Swallow  there  a  second  time  ;  will  forward  her  and  her 
cargo  to  Sumatra  on  her  arrival  ;  and  after  her  return  she  and 
another  ship  will  be  laded  for  England  at  Fort  St.  David  in  Janu- 
ary next.  In  order  to  assist  Bengal  in  getting  rid  of  the  great 
amount  of  tonnage  with  them,  desired  them  in  September  last  to 
send  a  ship   to  call    at  Vizagapatam  for  the   bales    ready  there   in 


CALENDAR   FOR  1749-1750  93 

December.     Hear  that  the  Prince  William  was  to  do  this  and  sail 
direct  for  Europe.     Other  ships'  movements. 

One  of  the  chests  of  silver  sent  by  the  Augusta  had  been  broken 
open  by  one  of  the  crew  and  was  47  oz.  short.  The  Captain  had 
the  delinquent  in  custody  and  desired  him  to  be  tried  ashore  ;  but  it 
was  thought  that  the  Charter  would  not  authorise  this.  Lead  has 
sold  well  lately  ;  in  January  300  candies  were  sold  at  12  Pags. 
19^2  fns.  per  candy.  Have  continued  aboard  this  ship,  a  large 
quantity  of  saltpetre  put  on  her  in  Bengal,  as  the  Royal  George  and 
Chesterfield  carry  none,  and  it  is  needed  to  complete  her  tonnage. 

Have  been  fortunate  in  being  able  to  provide  so  many  bales  of 
cloth  in  spite  of  the  revolution  in  the  country,  which  is  still  foment- 
ed by  the  French.  What  is  now  sent  is  of  better  quality  than 
any  sent  home  for  some  time  and  equally  cheap.  As  Nasir  Jang  is 
daily  expected  at  Arcot,  and  is  likely  to  remain  for  some  time,  do 
not  expect  to  make  so  large  an  investment  this  year,  but  hope  to 
make  this  good  in  part  by  sending  considerable  supplies  to  the 
Northern  factories.  The  Madras  merchants  who  came  here  to 
settle  their  accounts  have  contracted  to  deliver  by  February  20 
about  230  bales  at  an  abatement  in  the  price  formerly  allowed  by 
the  President,  etc.,  at  Madras.  The  succatoons  ordered  shall  be  set 
about  at  once.  Have  the  same  reasons  as  last  year  for  sending 
much  brown  cloth.  The  bales  provided  in  the  last  season  are  : — 
at  Fort  St.  David  2,243  ;  at  Vizagapatam  300  sent  to  Fort  St.  David 
and  250  sent  to  Bengal  ;  at  Ingeram  699  ;  chay  goods  17. 

The  state  of  the  province  is  rather  worse  than  when  the  Royal 
George  sailed.  Muzaffar  Jang  and  Chunda  Sahib  marched  inland 
in  the  beginning  of  November.  They  first  attacked  Udaiyarpalai- 
yam  where  they  expected  to  get  a  large  sum  without  delay  ;  but 
they  were  detained  with  daily  skirmishes  for  a  whole  month  and 
at  last  got  3  lakhs  of  rupees.  Meanwhile  several  letters  demand- 
ing assistance  were  received  from  Muhammad  Ali  ;  and  it  was 
resolved  to  send  Captain  Cope  with  a  company  of  Europeans 
and  topasses  and  Lieutenant  Nost  with  a  few  of  the  Train.  Have 
also  spared  several  cannon  which  were  not  wanted  and  some 
warlike  stores,  for  which  Muhammad  Ali  is  to  pay. 

On  hearing  of  the  assistance  rendered  by  the  English  to 
Muhammad  Ali,  Muzaffar  Jang  and  Chunda  Sahib  abandoned  their 
plan  of  immediately  attacking  Trichinopoly  and  moved  against 
Tanjore,  which  country  they  have  nearly  ruined.  About  6  weeks 
ago  they  laid  siege  to  the  city  which  was  bravely  defended  and 
some  successful   sallies  were  made.     However,   seeing  the  enemy 


94  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

resolutely  pushing  the  siege,  the  King  has  now  made  terms, 
agreeing  to  pay  60  lakhs  of  rupees  in  instalments.  However  it  is 
thought  that  not  more  than  6  or  7  lakhs  have  actually  been  paid, 
slowly  and  in  small  sums,  for  which  reason  the  siege  has  been 
renewed  and  the  French,  having  fetched  ordnance  from  Karikal, 
are  now  playing  night  and  day  on  the  place  with  3  cannon  and 
3  mortars.  It  is  feared  the  place  will  fall  unless  the  troops  Nasir 
Jang  is  sending  to  its  relief  arrive  soon.  If  the  enemy  take  it,  it  is 
believed  they  will  defend  it  against  Nasir  Jang  ;  but  if  they  are 
forced  to  raise  the  siege,  Chunda  Sahib  is  expected  to  retire  to 
Pondichery  and  Muzaffar  Jang  to  Gingee.  Both  Muhammad  Ali 
and  Nasir  Jang  have  acknowledged  the  service  done  them  by  the 
English  in  sending  assistance  to  Trichinopoly.  There  is  daily 
news  of  Nasir  Jang's  advance  with  100,000  horse  and  a  large  Train 
of  Artillery  ;  some  of  his  troops  are  said  to  have  already  entered 
the  Carnatic,  and  Sampati  Rao  (who  was  Diwan  to  Anwar-ud-din) 
is  daily  expected  at  Arcot. 

Have  prepared  a  present  for  Nasir  Jang,  including  the  handsome 
tent  which  he  asked  for  when  Mutyalu  was  with  him  ;  the  whole 
will  amount  to  10,000  Pags.  Lawrence  and  Westcott  have  been 
selected  as  ambassadors,  with  Captain  Daltonto  attend  upon  them. 
Their  instructions  will  be  prepared  as  soon  as  the  Elizabeth  has 
been  despatched.  Haji  Hadi  has  been  ordered  to  accompany  them. 
Expect  to  obtain  grants  for  several  villages  near  Madras  and 
especially  a  confirmation  of  Muhammad  Ali's  grant  of  St.  Thome. 
This  will  involve  presents  for  Nasir  Jang  and  his  chief  people, 
according  to  eastern  ways,  but  no  more  will  be  given  than  is 
absolutely  necessary.  Still  have  quiet  possession  of  St.  Thome  and 
the  inhabitants  are  content.  The  King  of  Tanjore  has  been  prevent- 
ed by  Chunda  Sahib's  attack  from  paying  the  50,000  Rs.  still  due 
under  the  Devikottai  agreement.  Have  made  an  allowance  of 
300  Rs.  a  month  to  Shahji,  the  ex-King  of  Tanjore,  residing  in 
Cuddalore,  in  order  to  engage  him  not  to  join  Chunda  Sahib;  this 
will  be  continued  no  longer  than  is  necessary.  Malraja,  who  was 
made  Poligar  of  Madras,  has  been  dismissed  for  extorting  money 
from  the  inhabitants  by  barbarous  methods  ;  and  the  old  Poligar, 
having  made  due  submission,  has  been  reinstated. 

Have  almost  completed  two  cranes  for  unloading  heavy  goods, 
one  at '  the  Back  Gate  of  the  Fort '  and  the  other  at  Cuddalore,  each 
with  a  small  warf  projecting  into  the  river.  They  will  cost  about 
1,440  Pags.  The  new  rampart  at  the  north-east  end  of  Cuddalore, 
built  too  fiimsily  by  Delavaux  in  spite  of  warnings,  fell  down  in  the 


CALENDAR   FOR   1749-1750  95 

heavy  rains  of  last  November;  but  being  absolutely  necessary,  has 
been  rebuilt  substantially.  Lawrence  advised  that  the  parapet  of 
the  south  curtain  at  Cuddalore  was  too  high,  and  that  the  sand- 
heaps  against  the  walls  would  facilitate  an  attack  ;  the  first  will  be 
lowered  and  the  second  cleared  away.  Have  allowed  Captain  John 
Crompton  300  Pags.  for  the  use  of  his  house  for  2  years  to  accom- 
modate the  Captains  of  His  Majesty's  Squadron.  Must  erect  a 
shed  to  preserve  gun  carriages,  etc.,  from  exposure  to  the  weather. 
Have  let  the  paddy  fields  and  salt  pans  at  Madras  at  an  increased 
rent  of  40  Pags.  a  year,  and  the  Company's  Old  Garden  there  at  the 
usual  rent.  The  cost  of  the  horn-work  and  other  fortifications 
erected  at  Fort  St.  David  will  greatly  exceed  the  estimate  originally 
sent  home,  owing  to  Delavaux'  having  continued  them  on  a  plan 
different  from  that  prepared  by  Jones.  The  latter  intended  the 
Fort  guns  to  play  over  the  horn-work,  but  Delavaux  has  carried  it 
to  an  equal  height.  Moreover  the  glacis  has  been  much  more 
expensive  than  was  expected.  The  horn-work  is  finished  except 
for  laying  some  gun  platforms  and  completing  'the  Roman  ways.' 
Are  now  building  a  bridge  over  the  new  channel  that  was  cut  for 
the  Devanampattanam  river,  west  of  the  Fort. 

Prince  set  out  for  Madras  November  25  and  Lawrence  returned 
December  7.  John  William  Speck  died  November  8.  Are  in  great 
need  of  covenanted  servants.  Robert  Clive,  desiring  to  revert  to 
the  civil  branch,  has  been  appointed  Steward  ;  Edmund  Maskelyne 
desires  to  remain  in  the  Military,  and  his  services  merit  the  Com- 
pany's favour ;  cannot  tell  Philip  Bulkeley's  wishes  as  he  is  at 
Trichinopoly.  Have  granted  a  pension  of  5  Pags.  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Woodward,  widow  of  a  former  councillor  here.  Lawrence  promised 
Merriman,  Hockett  and  Pero  (who  were  in  His  Majesty's  Train)  that 
they  should  receive  pay  equal  to  that  of  Ensign  if  they  would  join 
the  Company's  Train,  as  he  knew  the  Company  was  anxious  to 
recruit  trained  Artillery  officers  ;  and  Council  have  confirmed  this, 
although  the  rate  laid  down  by  the  Company  for  Artillery  officers 
is  less  than  Ensign's  pay  and  less  than  that  of  the  King's  service. 
Regarding  the  Troop  of  horse,  have  carried  out  the  Company's  orders 
to  the  bounds  of  prudence.  Must  retain  30  troopers,  in  case  Dupleix 
should  instigate  Chunda  Sahib  to  attack  any  of  our  out-villages, 
which  could  not  be  promptly  protected  by  a  body  of  foot.  In  one 
of  his  letters  to  Padre  Antonio,  Dupleix  pointed  out  that  the  English 
could  no  longer  protect  their  inhabitants,  apparently  meaning  that 
owing  to  the  destruction  of  the  Black  Town  the  merchants  would 
have  to  reside  in  the  out-villages  and  so  be  exposed  to  raids.     The 


96  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

rest  of  the  Troop  have  been  disposed  of ;  its  total  cost  by  death,  the 
enemy  and  desertion  has  been  14,022  Pags.  Called  on  the  Commis- 
saries for  receiving  Madras  to  submit  a  statement  of  their  expenses 
on  that  account,  but  they  have  preferred  to  rely  on  the  Company's 
known  generosity  for  a  suitable  recompense.  On  Lawrence's 
recommendation  Robert  Talbot  and  John  Holdman  have  been 
appointed  Ensigns.  Morse  recently  informed  the  Council  that  his 
affairs  were  still  in  such  a  position  that  his  going  home  now  would 
seriously  injure  himself  and  those  concerned  with  him  ;  have  agreed 
to  his  deferring  his  departure  till  September,  being  convinced  of 
the  truth  of  what  he  says.  Edward  Harris  (late  of  Council  at 
Madras),  his  wife,  and  William  Henry  Southby's  daughter  go  home 
by  this  ship.  William  Belsches,  Surgeon,  intending  to  go  home  in 
September,  has  been  allowed  to  resign,  and  James  Wilson  appoint- 
ed in  his  stead.  John  Moore,  who  was  Chief  Carpenter  with  His 
Majesty's  Train  and  is  recommended  as  competent  to  assist  an 
Engineer  and  well  versed  in  Artillery  matters,  has  been  entertained 
as  Carpenter  at  Madras,  on  terms  not  more  than  commensurate 
with  his  probable  services. 

Coja  Gregorio  has  refused  to  accept  the  bills  drawn  on  him  by 
Coja  Marut  Markar.  Have  not  yet  received  the  Ganjam  or  Vizaga- 
patam  books,  for  which  those  factories  will  be  duly  reprimanded. 
Morse  reports  that  he  sent  home  by  Boscawen  a  cash  account 
showing  how  the  money  borrowed  on  bonds  at  Madras  was  expend- 
ed ;  have  found  no  papers  that  throw  any  light  on  this  affair. 
Forward  the  accounts  of  the  Madras  merchants  for  the  Company's 
consideration  ;  consider  that  they  have  improperly  credited  them- 
selves for  various  articles.  Have  not  yet  been  able  to  prepare  the 
Madras  General  Books  ending  April  1746.  Most  of  the  Company's 
wares  and  stores  are  sold  by  retail  so  that  the  form  sent  out  for 
account  sale  is  inapplicable  ;  it  shall  however  be  used  for  all  goods 
sold  at  outcry. 

When  the  peons  and  sepoys  were  discharged,  there  were 
numerous  small  advances  standing  against  them  amounting  to  950 
Pags. ;  this  has  been  written  off  as  a  bad  debt.  Regret  that  the  long 
passage  of  the  Porto  Bello  inconvenienced  the  Company  by  delaying 
the  arrival  of  the  annual  books  and  papers.  Those  would  have 
been  perfectly  regular  had  Council  had  any  Madras  papers  to  serve 
as  models  ;  trust  that  any  errors  will  not  be  imputed  to  negligence 
or  inattention. 

Regret  that  the  Council  lacked  power  authoritatively  to  decide 
the  dispute  between  Jones  and  Moses  ;  consider  that   Jones   by 


CALENDAR  FOR  1749-1750  97 

refusing  the  offers  of  accommodation  and  insisting  on  a  trial  in 
England  aimed  at  ruining  his  opponent,  by  compelling  him  to  leave 
his  concerns  in  India.  There  is  also  money  in  the  Company's  cash 
claimed  by  the  creditors  of  the  late  Captain  Edward  Jacobs ;  but 
there  is  no  authority  to  deal  with  it. 

On  reconsideration  of  La  Mettrie's  and  Barnewall's  deportation 
to  England,  it  was  observed  that  they  had  been  arrested  on  Bos- 
cawen's  request,  that  he  alone  had  proofs  of  his  accusations  against 
them,  and  that,  in  case  of  his  death  or  the  disappearance  of  the 
proofs,  the  Company  might  be  liable  for  damages  if  they  were 
compulsorily  sent  to  England.  Accordingly  when  they  demanded 
the  reason  of  their  arrest,  no  answer  was  given  ;  but  Mrs.  Madeiros' 
bond  for  their  appearance  was  restored  to  her  ;  and  it  was  decided 
to  expel  them  from  the  Company's  Bounds  and  confiscate  their 
houses  ;  the  last  could  not  be  carried  out  as  their  houses  were 
mortgaged.  They  have  now  sailed  for  Europe  in  a  French  ship, 
declaring  that  they  will  seek  redress  in  Europe.  Among  La  Mettrie's 
claims  is  one  for  32,000  Pags.  as  his  wife's  fortune,  which  it  is  well 
known  he  paid  away  a  few  months  after  receiving  it  to  his  creditors 
in  China.  The  other  sums  he  pretends  to  claim  may  have  been 
acquired  by  plundering  at  Madras  ;  but  for  years  he  has  lived 
entirely  on  the  bounty  of  his  wife's  family  ;  and  his  credit  has  been 
low  ever  since  he  appropriated  to  his  own  use  a  large  sum  of  the 
French  Company's  money,  part  of  which  Dupleix  now  claims  on  the 
Company's  account.  Barnewall  boasts  that  the  only  accusation 
against  him  is  his  having  acted  as  Quartermaster  for  La  Bour- 
donnais  at  Madras.  Enclose  however  affidavits*  to  prove  that  he 
corresponded  with  the  French  while  the  War  was  in  progress.  It 
was  intended  to  suppress  this  charge  against  him,  as  it  may  prove 
a  hanging  matter,  but  he  seems  disposed  to  push  matters  to 
extremities,  instigated  by  Dupleix,  and  (it  is  believed)  by  Jones 
who  has  been  shunned  by  the  English  since  his  quarrel  with 
Moses.  Barnewall  himself  seems  to  have  a  poor  opinion  of  his 
case,  for  he  fled  from  Madras  in  disguise  instead  of  coming  to  Fort 
St.  David  to  take  passage  by  the  Elizabeth  as  had  been  arranged. 

The  extraordinary  conduct  of  the  French  has  produced  'a  most 
troublesome  correspondence  with  them ',  although  the  English 
did  their  best  to  avoid  it  by  concise  answers  to  the  French 
complaints  and  protests  about  alleged  breaches   of  the   Treaty. 


*  The  list  of  the  packet  appended  to  this  despatch  shows  an  item   '  Rodolf  d'Gingen 
and  Andrew  Munro's  affidavit  relating  to  Mr.  Barnewall.  ' 


«3 


98  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Then  arose  La  Mettrie's  affair  and  a  claim  was  made  on  account  of 
his  debt  to  the  French  Company.  Then  2  English  sailors,  wander- 
ing outside  the  Bounds,  were  seized  by  the  French ;  and,  when 
Floyer  had  them  rescued  by  a  party  of  soldiers,  the  French  com- 
plained we  had  insulted  their  flag  because  the  incident  happened 
in  a  village  3  miles  out  where  they  had  chosen  to  hoist  it  and 
claim  the  village  in  consequence.  It  is  remarkable  that  they  make 
the  English  responsible  for  La  Mettrie's  debt  and  yet  let  him  go  to 
Europe  on  one  of  their  own  ships. 

It  is  too  evident  that  the  French  aim  at  excluding  the  English 
first  from  the  trade  of  the  Coromandel  coast,  and  then  from  that  of 
all  India.  Hope  this  may  be  averted  with  the  help  of  Nasir  Jang, 
whose  friendship  will  be  carefully  cultivated;  but  wish  that  the 
Company  had  put  Fort  St.  David  more  in  a  position  to  help  itself. 
Although  Boscawen  remonstrated  with  the  Government  of  Batavia 
about  their  insults  to  the  British  flag  and  the  Company's  pass,  it  has 
had  no  effect,  for  they  stopped  in  the  Straits  of  Malacca  a  country 
ship  called  the  Arcot,  bound  from  Fort  St.  David  to  Manilla.  Have 
certain  information  that  Batavia  ordered  her  voyage  to  be  prevent- 
ed altogether,  as  they  have  a  ship  bound  for  Manilla  and  hope  to 
monopolise  that  trade.  But  these  orders  could  not  be  carried  out 
as  we  happened  to  have  3  of  our  China  ships  at  Malacca.  .Shall 
write  to  Negapatam  about  this  and  also  inform  Commodore  Lisle. 

According  to  the  best  information  obtainable,  2  ships  have 
lately  reached  Pondichery  from  France  with  treasure ;  one  sailed 
'  sometime  since.'  The  Prince  which  came  out  last  year  has  just 
sailed.  The  Favorite,  which  went  to  Manilla  last  year,  has  gone  to 
fetch  pepper  from  Mahe,  and  (it  is  said),  will  go  to  Manilla  again 
this  year.  The  Anson  has  gone  to  Mocha,  and  the  Devanampattanam 
(from  Bengal)  to  Mauritius.  The  French  investment  has  amount- 
ed to  2  lakhs  of  rupees,  and  they  have  lately  advanced  their 
merchants  a  lakh. 

When  the  Brilliant  was  sent  to  Achin  on  a  secret  cruize  in  1747, 
Griffin  ordered  the  Chief  Mate,  Thomas  Webster,  to  remain  there 
and  forward  any  intelligence  he  might  receive ;  he  has  now 
returned,  and  his  expenses  (2,008  Rs.)  have  been  paid  him. 

A  Vestry  has  been  held  at  Madras,  and  Church-Wardens  ap- 
pointed to  receive  the  debts  due  to  the  Church  Stock;  several  have 
been  paid  and  several  bonds  (not  yet  due)  renewed.  A  Treasurer 
and  Trustees  have  also  been  elected  to  collect  and  manage  the 
Charity  Stock.  Have  expelled  a  Roman  Catholic  priest  who 
resided  at  Cuddalore  „and  given  his  church  to  Kiernander  of  the 


CALENDAR  FOR  1749-1750  99 

Society  for  promoting  Christian  Knowledge.  Have  also  given 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church  at  Vepery,  west  of  Madras,  to  the 
same  mission  until  the  Company's  pleasure  is  known.  The 
latter  Church  is  claimed  by  Coja  Petrus  Uscan,  but  it  is  believed 
that  he  had  previously  made  it  over  to  the  Capuchins.  Have 
forbidden  houses  in  the  White  Town  at  Madras  to  be  sold  to  any 
but  European  Protestants.  Thomas  Eyre,  late  of  Council  and  Pay- 
master at  Madras,  has  sent  in  his  accounts  for  August-October 
1746,  and  applied  for  payment  of  the  balance  due  to  him.  Send  on 
this  ship  6  French  deserters  detected  in  an  attempt  to  desert 
again,  and  believed  to  have  been  sent  to  seduce  the  English 
garrison  to  desert,  as  many  have  done  lately ;  also  a  private  in- 
capacitated by  a  wound  in  the  head.  Have  protested  against  the 
Captain  of  the  Elizabeth  as  she  cannot  take  in  her  full  tonnage  by 
over  38  tons.  Forward  two  petitions  from  Sunku  Rama  to  the 
Company.  The  Elizabeth's  cargo  is  invoiced  at  159,015  Pags. 
Diamonds  registered  by  her,  22,670  Pags.  Balance  in  Cash,  14,329 
Pags.     Bills  drawn  on  the  Company  for  4,583  Pags. 

Appended  are  : — (i)  register  of  diamonds  ;  (2)  manifest  of 
sundries  shipped  as  presents  ;  (3)  sailing  orders  for  the  Elizabeth', 
(4)  protest  against  the  Captain  of  the  Elizabeth  ;  and  (5)  list  of  the 
packet. 

Separate  [?]  Despatch  from  Charles  Floyer,  etc.,  to  the 
Company.  Fort  St.  David.   Februarys,  1750.  Received 

MAY  8,  1 75 1.    [Factory  Records,  Fort  St.  David,  Vol.  10,  pp.  589-590 
(India  Office  transcript.)] 

Have  been  obliged  to  renew  the  commission  to  Major  Lawrence 
for  holding  general  courts-martial,  notwithstanding  the  Company's 
orders  to  the  contrary  in  its  despatch  of  January  27,  1749.  Send 
copy  of  his  letter  to  explain  the  Council's  motives.  A  compliance 
with  the  orders  would  have  endangered  the  Company's  settlement 
with  the  lives  and  fortunes  of  all  their  servants. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Charles  Floyer,    etc. 
East  India  House.    August  30,   1749.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  53,  pp.  21-28  (Original  8  pp.)] 

Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  despatch,  dated  January  16,  1749, 
with  Floyer's  letter  to  the  Secret  Committee.  Are  now  despatching 
the  Lapwing  with  80  chests  of  treasure  for  Bengal.  She  is  ordered 
to  put  into  Fort  St.  David  if  she  can  reach  it  before  the  end  of 
January   in  which  case  her  treasure  is   to  be  coined  at  once  and 


100  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

forwarded  to  Bengal,  so  that  she  may  be  returned  the  same  season 
with  a  cargo  of  fine  goods.  No  part  of  the  treasure  is  on  any 
account  to  be  detained  at  Fort  St.  David  for  the  previous  diversion 
of  large  sums  intended  for  Bengal  has  '  most  sensibly  distressed 
us  '.  Positive  orders  to  take  all  means  to  send  treasure  to  Bengal ; 
if  there  should  be  a  stock  of  ready-coined  rupees,  they  should  be 
sent  instead  of  the  Lapwing's  treasure.  Return  lascars  who  came 
to  Europe  on  the  Lapwing  and  Swallow ;  the  surgeon  is  to  be  paid 
105.  a  head  for  all  landed  at  Fort  St.  David  ;  but  this  allowance  is 
never  to  be  paid  on  lascars  navigating  any  but  the  Company's  own 
ships.  Have  sent  the  Swallow  to  procure  250  slaves  at  Madagascar 
for  Sumatra  ;  they  will  be  landed  at  Fort  St.  David  to  be  forward- 
ed thence.  As  soon  as  the  Swallow  is  refitted  and  the  crew  refresh- 
ed, she  will  return  to  Madagascar  for  a  second  cargo  of  slaves  in- 
tended for  Fort  St.  David,  where  those  fit  for  it  are  to  be  trained 
in  the  military  exercise.  The  agents  (the  Captain  and  Chief  Mate 
of  the  Swallow)  are  to  be  paid  £1  for  every  slave  delivered  and  the 
surgeons  55. 

The  shippers  of  coral  and  foreign  silver  to  Fort  St.  David  have 
agreed  that  if  the  Lapwing  goes  direct  to  Bengal,  their  consign- 
ments may  be  forwarded  by  any  of  the  Company's  ships  at  their 
own  risk  but  without  extra  charge.  Three  or  more  ships  are  fitting 
out  at  Leghorn  for  the  East  Indies  ;  as  many  English  officers  and 
sailors  are  likely  to  be  engaged  in  that  service,  have  petitioned 
His  Majesty  to  cause  his  Commanders  to  seize  all  such  according  to 
the  statutes  ;  Council  should  apply  to  the  King's  officers  in  the  East 
to  do  the  same,  should  the  ships  appear  there.  Have  advanced 
£500  to  Coja  Marut  Marcar,  an  Armenian  of  Bengal,  who  has  come 
to  Europe  to  procure  restitution  of  a  ship  of  his  seized  by  the 
Portuguese  at  Calicut  in  1747,  though  it  had  an  English  pass  which 
however  was  said  to  be  irregular.  The  English  Minister  has  been 
ordered  to  support  his  claim.  Send  his  bills  of  exchange  on 
Michael  Gregory,  merchant  of  Fort  St.  David,  in  payment  of  the 
advance  ;  and  send  a  proper  form  of  pass  to  be  given  to  all 
ships  entitled  to  the  English  protection.  In  future  bills  are  to  be 
drawn  on  the  Company  at  7s.  Sd.  per  pagoda  for  Covenanted  servants 
and  those  entitled  to  the  higher  rate,  and  at  7s.  4d.  for  all  others. 
As  large  a  quantity  of  goods  as  possible  should  be  provided  for  the 
investment,  especially  fine  muslins  which  have  been  in  demand  since 
the  prohibition  of  cam[bays  ?] ;  a  few  bales  of  succatooms  such  as 
were  formerly  sent  from  Madras  are  also  wanted.  Will  send 
plentiful  supplies  early  by  the  China  ships.     Complain  of  the  lack 


CALENDAR  FOR  1749-1750  101 

of  books  from  the  subordinate  factories.  Dismiss  Captain 
Delavaux  for  his  unsatisfactory  behaviour.  A  General  Court  held 
on  June  21  could  come  to  no  resolution  about  the  Madras  bonds 
for  lack  of  information ;  repeat  previous  orders  on  this  subject. 
Require  every  season  an  exact  account  of  the  sales  of  the  Company's 
goods.  Require  annual  lists  of  all  Covenanted  military  and  other 
servants  showing  their  rank,  yearly  salary  and  allowances. 
The  French  Capuchins  have  no  right  to  present  priests  to  the 
'  Romish  Church  '  at  Madras  ;  the  Governor,  etc.,  alone  make  the 
appointment.  Complain  of  the  failure  to  send  an  account  of  the 
quick  stock  by  each  ship  ;  it  must  show  on  the  one  side  cash  and 
bullion,  goods  in  warehouse  either  for  Europe  or  for  sale,  etc.,  and 
all  good  debts,  and  on  the  other  debts  owed  by  and  loans  made  to 
the  Company,  and  goods  delivered  by  the  merchants,  but  not  paid 
for.  The  dead  stock  (forts,  buildings,  etc.)  has  no  place  in  this 
account.  If  the  subordinate  factories  fail  to  send  their  accounts 
in  time,  a  careful  estimate  must  be  made  instead,  but  they  must  be 
informed  that  their  negligence  will  be  resented. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Charles  Floyer,  etc. 
East  India  House.    November  3,  174Q.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  53,  pp.  29-36  (Copy  8  pp.)] 

Ships'  arrivals.  This  goes  by  the  Portfield  bound  for  Fort  St. 
David  and  Benjar-massin.  Send  part  of  the  Swallow's  Madagascar 
cargo  that  she  could  not  take  in.  The  Portfield  is  to  be  despatched 
within  10  days  of  her  arrival.  She  goes  to  Benjar  not  only  to  get 
a  lading  of  pepper  for  China,  but  also  in  order  to  assert  the  English 
right  to  a  free  trade  there,  which  has  been  obstructed  lately  by 
Dutch  chicanery.  All  useful  intelligence  is  to  be  communicated  to 
her  supercargoes,  and  they  are  to  be  supplied  with  a  good  Malay 
interpreter.  No  treasure  consigned  to  Fort  St.  David  by  thisorany 
other  vessel  is  to  be  kept  except  what  is  absolutely  needed  there ; 
all  the  rest  is  to  be  coined  and  sent  to  Bengal.  The  4  China 
ships  will  shortly  follow  ;  it  will  be  well  if  they  can  be  laded  with 
goods  suitable  for  China  without  endangering  their  passage.  Do 
not  purpose  on  this  occasion  to  comment  on  the  despatches  received 
this  season  ;  but  observe  that  most  of  them  are  short,  that  opportu- 
nities of  writing  were  neglected,  and  that  the  books  and  papers  of 
consequence  were  detained  until  the  departure  of  the  last  ship. 
All  this  has  a  great  appearance  of  negligence.  So  also  has  the 
despatch  of  the  Delawar  to  Benjar  without  instructions,  the  voyage 
being  critrical  and  the  Captain  deprived  of  his  supercargoes. 


102  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Have  appointed  Engineer-General  of  all  the  Settlements  in 
India,  Benjamin  Robins,  '  a  gentleman  eminently  skilled  in  his 
profession,'  who  will  sail  with  several  assistants  by  one  of  the  first 
ships.  All  buildings  are  to  be  suspended  at  Fort  St.  David  until  his 
arrival  or  further  orders.  A  Council  of  five  is  to  be  appointed  to 
manage  affairs  at  Madras,  with  Richard  Prince  as  Chief  and  Joseph 
Fowke  as  Second ;  the  Council  is  to  be  assisted  by  a  suitable 
number  of  covenanted  servants  ;  and  half  the  Company's  troops 
are  to  be  garrisoned  there  under  command  of  a  proper  officer.  In 
order  to  encourage  the  inhabitants  to  return,  they  are  to  be  assured 
of  enjoying  the  full  rights  and  privileges  which  they  had  before 
Madras  was  captured  and  that  the  Company  will  protect  them  to  be 
utmost  of  its  power.  No  buildings  are  to  be  raised  or  restored  there 
until  Robins'  arrival. 


DESPATCH    FROM    THE    COMPANY    TO    CHARLES    FLOYER,   ETC. 

East  India  House.    December  8,  1749.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  53,  pp.  37-53  [Original  17  pp.)] 
Reply  to  despatches  of  January  16  and  February  22.  Now  send 
by  the  4  China  ships  a  large  quantity  of  bullion,  merchandise 
and  stores.  The  ships  to  be  despatched  as  soon  as  possible,  and 
the  Company  will  be  gratified  if  they  can  be  laded  with  goods  for 
China  without  endangering  their  passage  ;  any  goods  put  aboard 
will  be  paid  for  by  the  supercargoes  out  of  the  silver  consigned  to 
them.  The  London,  Kent,  Lynn  and  Norfolk  will  sail  for  the  Coast 
and  Bay  early  next  month.  All  this  season's  ships  are  kintledged 
with  iron  ;  so  there  is  no  need  to  lade  any  saltpetre  on  them  unless 
there  should  be  a  lack  of  other  goods.  As  many  cargoes  to  be  sent 
home  as  possible,  despatching  first  those  ships  that  have  been 
longest  in  India.  Boscawen  was  desired  on  his  leaving  England  to 
dismiss  as  early  as  possible  the  Company's  ships  he  did  not 
absolutely  need;  are  persuaded  that  if  matters  had  been  properly 
represented  to  him,  he  would  have  dismissed  at  least  2  more 
than  he  did  after  raising  the  siege  of  Pondichery,  and  these  extra 
ships  could  have  been  sent  home  with  pepper  from  Malabar.  The 
Porto  Bello  had  great  difficulty  in  getting  round  the  Cape  because 
she  was  detained  a  month  at  Fort  St.  David,  waiting  for  books  and 
papers  which  might  as  well  have  been  sent  by  the  Lapwing.  The 
Dolphin  which  has  not  been  heard  of  since  her  despatch  in  March 
1748,  is  believed  to  have  been  lost  at  sea.  The  captures  made  by  His 
Majesty's  ship  Medway's  Prize  and  the  Company's  ships  Benjamin 


CALENDAR  FOR  1749-1750  103 

and  Bombay  Castle,  have  caused  difficulties  in  Bengal,  the  Govern- 
ment demanding  their  restoration  as  belonging  to  Moghal  subjects. 
As  regards  the  Company's  ships  at  least,  the  Fort  St.  David  Council 
should  have  insisted  on  the  deposit  of  the  prize-money  in  the 
Company's  Treasury  till  the  validity  of  the  prizes  had  been  decided 
in  England.  The  rates  paid  to  ships'  Captains  for  the  maintenance 
of  soldiers  on  board  (in  one  case  is.  6d.  per  diem  and  in  others  8 
fanams  for  privates  and  12  for  officers)  seem  excessive  ;  no  effort 
was  made  to  reduce  the  Captains'  demands  ;  nor  is  it  clear  whether 
the  men  were  King's  or  Company's  troops  ;  if  the  former,  the 
payments  should  have  been  certified,  so  as  $£  permit  a  recovery  from 
Government.  Care  to  be  taken  about  damaged  goods  and  short 
deliveries  out  of  the  ships.  Details  of  the  method  of  weighing 
copper,  etc.,  in  England.  Ships'  Captains  must  pay  for  gunny-bags 
to  put  ballast  in. 

Send  a  large  quantity  of  bullion  intended  solely  for  Bengal ;  it  is 
to  be  coined  and  forwarded  with  all  despatch.  Repeat  complaints 
about  the  detention  of  silver  for  Bengal.  Linga  Chetti  proves 
right  in  declaring  that  the  dollars  sent  out  were  4  dwt.  instead  of 
2J4  worse  than  standard  ;  but  the  rupees  coined  in  February  1749 
were  only  2Y2  dwt.  instead  of  4%  dwt.  better  than  standard.  The 
due  fineness  of  the  coinage  must  be  strictly  maintained.  In  future 
Fort  St.  David  and  Sumatra  are  to  be  supplied  with  gunpowder 
from  Bombay,  where  very  good  powder  is  made.  Cancel  previous 
orders  for  the  purchase  of  tea.  When  the  contract  with  the 
merchants  was  made  at  Fort  St.  David,  it  was  agreed  to  give  them 
broadcloth  at  30%  on  the  invoice;  but  on  their  desiring  to  be 
excused  taking  it,  it  was  sold  to  Linga  Chetti  at  the  same  rate. 
This  method  was  only  permitted  at  Madras  in  order  to  assist 
merchants  heavily  indebted  to  the  Company  to  pay  off  their  debts. 
At  Fort  William  and  Bombay  public  sales  have  proved  much  more 
advantageous.  In  future  all  goods  sent  out  are  to  be  put  up  at 
outcry  in  reasonable  lots — broadcloth  not  more  than  4  bales,  per- 
petuanos  not  more  than  3  bales,  and  other  goods  not  above  the 
invoice-value  of  .£200 — at  an  up-set  price  of  15%  on  the  invoice; 
purchasers  are  to  be  allowed  12  months  in  which  to  clear  the  goods, 
with  a  discount  of  9  %  should  they  be  cleared  within  6  months  and 
of  3  %  if  cleared  within  12  months ;  no  goods  to  be  issued  with- 
out payment.  As  regards  the  short  deliveries  of  grain  from  Bengal, 
there  may  have  been  carelessness  in  shipping  grain  full  of  dust, 
but  fear  that  there  was  also  carelessness  in  landing  it  at  Fort  St. 
David. 


104  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

The  Company  has  been  greatly  affected  by  the  small  returns 
made  for  the  great  sums  of  money  spent  at  Fort  St.  David,  especially 
as  this  has  affected  the  Bengal  investment.  Send  a  list  of  the 
goods  required;  these  must  be  provided  at  the  cheapest  possible 
rates-  The  Consultations  do  not  show  the  names  of  merchants  who 
contracted  to  deliver  goods  in  1748,  nor  does  the  contract  seem  to 
have  specified  the  quantity  or  time  of  delivery.  Later  on  the 
merchants  were  allowed  an  increase  of  2  Pags.  a  corge — appa- 
rently without  due  consideration  or  enquiry.  In  future  written 
tenders  are  to  be  called  for  and  entered  in  the  Consultations  with 
reasons  assigned  for  ..acceptance  or  rejection  ;  and  contracting 
merchants  must  give  security  for  performance  of  their  contract. 
Complain  that  Floyer's  letter  to  the  Secret  Committee  of  February 
20  [Wanting],  makes  no  mention  of  the  French  ship  lately  arrived 
from  Pondichery  with  a  rich  cargo  or  of  another  ship  now  expected 
thence. 

Complain  of  the  lavishness  of  the  presents  to  Nasir  Jang,  etc., 
amounting  to  20,518  Pags. ;  this  was  far  more  than  commensurate 
with  any  advantages  that  could  have  been  expected  from  the 
unreliable  Indian  powers;  more  frugality  and  caution  must  be 
displayed.  Hope  the  present  tranquillity  of  the  country  will  per- 
mit the  increase  of  the  investment.  Require  a  full  account  of  the 
extortion  of  money  from  Andrews  at  Ganjam  in  1746.  Desire  all 
farmans,  grants,  etc.,  at  Madras  to  be  collected,  translated,  and 
fair-copied  into  a  book  which  is  to  be  sent  home  with  all  speed. 

Benjamin  Robins,  etc.,  sail  on  the  Grant/mm.  Send  full  instruc- 
tions regarding  fortifications  in  a  separate  despatch  of  this  day. 
When  all  allowances  have  been  made,  the  sums  spent  (and  that  in- 
judiciously) on  the  works  at  Fort  St.  David  are  unreasonable.  When 
the  Bound-renter  applied  for  a  renewal  of  his  lease,  it  was  granted 
without  considering  the  applications  which  Floyer  stated  he  had 
received ;  in  future  all  forms,  licenses,  etc.,  are  to  be  sold  at  public 
outcry.  Object  to  the  advance  made  to  Peter  Dencker  of  500  Pags. 
to  enable  him  to  set  up  a  butcher's  shop  in  Cuddalore  with  the 
monopoly  of  supplying  the  soldiers  at  prices  much  higher  than 
those  at  which  he  supplied  the  Madras  garrison  in  1746;  a  free 
and  open  market  is  to  be  encouraged,  and  Dencker's  loan  recovered. 
The  slaves  from  Madagascar  are  to  be  employed  on  the  works  as 
well  as  trained  up  in  the  military. 

Are  highly  displeased  with  Floyer  for  disobeying  the  Secret  Com- 
mittee's express  orders  to  collect  and  send  home  proofs  of  Peyton's 
alleged  misconduct ;   he  allowed  Morse  to  retain  the  papers  and 


CALENDAR  FOR  1749-1750  105 

send  home  by  Monson  copies,  which  are  useless  as  evidence.  If 
Morse  has  not  already  sailed,  he  is  to  come  home  by  the  first  ship. 
Will  demand  of  Harrison  the  2,000  Pags.  he  owes  to  the  Church 
Stock.  Order  Lennox  home  by  the  first  ship  and  complain  of  his 
being  allowed  to  remain  in  India  in  defiance  of  former  orders.  The 
Regulations  for  the  Military  and  Artillery  are  not  to  be  altered  in 
respect  of  pay  or  the  establishment  of  officers  without  express 
permission.  Care  to  be  taken  to  prevent  the  false  musters  which 
are  believed  to  have  been  practised  before  Lawrence's  arrival. 
Cannot  admit  the  reasons  assigned  for  maintaining  the  Troop  of 
horse  ;  it  is  to  be  broke  and  the  accoutrements,  etc.,  sold  to  reim- 
burse in  part  the  extravagant  expense  of  raising  and  maintaining 
it.  In  future  muster  rolls  must  be  sent  home  annually  in  duplicate 
with  a  certified  list  of  men  dead,  run  or  discharged.  Will  consider 
Captain  James  Cope's  services  as  Judge-Advocate  when  properly 
certified  from  Fort  St.  David.  Desire  a  report  from  Lawrence  on 
the  ability  and  conduct  of  the  various  officers. 

Complain  of  collusive  disregard  of  the  Company's  orders  about 
the  Madras  claims  in  allowing  Coja  Shawmier  to  set  off  Madras 
bonds  against  the  bond  he  gave  to  the  President,  etc.,  of  Bombay, 
and  in  making  advances  of  500  Pags.  to  Peter  Dencker  and  1,200 
to  John  Gray.  Very  little  trouble  was  taken  about  the  Madras 
claims;  they  were  simply  noted  in  Consultation  without  enquiry. 
Why  did  Morse  put  in  his  claim  for  40,000  Pags.  only  on  February 
18,  1749.  when  public  notice  had  been  given  long  before  ?  The 
full  report  already  required  must  be  made.  Complain  of  the 
Steward's  being  allowed  to  have  in  hand  so  large  a  balance  as 
21,965  Pags.  paid  in  on  November  30,  1748.  The  True  Briton  should 
not  have  been  despatched  without  a  letter  to  the  Company. 
Complain  of  carelessness  in  drawing  bills  on  the  Company  and  in 
making  up  the  lists  of  stores  in  hand,  for  which  purpose  a  set 
form  is  now  prescribed. 

Disallow  the  pensions  granted  to  the  widows  Graham  and 
Smith  and  to  Captain  de  Morgan  ;  if  their  necessities  are  so  great, 
they  should  be  sent  home,  where  the  Company  will  consider  their 
claims.  No  pensions  may  be  granted  without  the  Company's 
permission.  When  Holt  was  in  charge  of  the  Mint,  he  held  no 
other  post  and  was  not  entitled  to  any  extra  allowance.  Approve 
the  application  to  Boscawen  for  the  repayment  of  the  sums 
expended  on  the  seige  of  Pondichery  ;  but  he  should  also  have 
been  requested  to  authenticate  the  accounts,  which  would  have 
facilitated  the  Company's  application  to  Government.     All  papers 

14 


106  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

relating  to  the  unadjusted  accounts  of  the  Squadron  when  under 
Barnett  and  Peyton  must  be  collected  and  sent  home,  as,  owing  to 
Peyton's  death,  difficulties  are  expected  in  their  settlement. 

Sumatra  affairs. 

Supplement :  The  Navy  Victualling  Commissioners  desire 
that,  if  Commodore  Lisle  shall  have  left  India  before  the  arrival 
of  the  provisions  now  sent,  the  provisions  be  sold  and  the  produce 
remitted  to  Europe  in  Company's  bills.  Have  had  great  difficulty 
over  Belsches'  accounts;  £285  has  been  struck  off  and  Belsches 
must  refund  this  sum  and  give  security  to  make  good  any  future 
deductions. 

Separate  [?]   Despatch   from   the   Company  to  Charles 
Floyer,  etc.     East   India    House.    December   8,  1749. 

[Public  Despatches  from  England,  Vol.  53,  pp.  55-65  (Original 
II  PPJ] 
Having  resolved  to  make  the  Company's  settlements  as  secure 
as  possible  against  the  attacks  of  European  or  Indian  enemies, 
have  appointed  Benjamin  Robins,  Engineer-General  and  Com- 
mander-in-Chief of  the  Artillery.  He  is  to  receive  all  support  and 
assistance,  and,  where  his  instructions  appear  ambiguous,  his 
interpretation  of  them  is  to  be  accepted.  His  instructions  are 
as  follows : — 

He  is  to  proceed  first  to  Fort  St.  David,  then  to  Fort  St. 
George,  Calcutta  and  Bombay,  calling  at  St.  Helena  on  his  way 
back  from  India,  and  if  possible  at  the  subordinate  settlements  in 
India  (especially  Vizagapatam)  on  his  way  from  one  Presidency  to 
another  ;  to  make  an  exact  plan  of  the  present  works  at  each  place 
and  form  a  scheme  for  their  improvement,  to  be  sent  home  with  an 
estimate  of  the  expense,  etc. ;  to  have  access  to  all  the  Company's 
records  bearing  on  the  matter;  to  command  the  Artillery  wherever 
he  may  be,  form  a  plan  for  their  exercise,  and  see  them  trained  ; 
to  examine  all  stores  in  the  magazines,  send  home  inventories  of 
them,  and  report  how  far  the  orders  of  June  17,  1748,  have  been 
carried  out ;  to  suspend  or  dismiss  any  officer  or  private  of  Artillery 
unfit  for  service,  reporting  the  reasons  to  the  Company  ;  in  case  of 
an  attack  on  any  settlement,  to  consider  whether  it  is  necessary  to 
go  thither  or  not,  but,  wherever  he  is,  he  is  to  be  present  and  vote 
at  all  Consultations  where  military  affairs  are  discussed  ;  except 
at  Calcutta,  to  avoid  entering  on  'any  great  expensive  work'  till 
the  Company's  orders  have  been  received,  but  where  repairs  or 
alterations  are  absolutely  and  urgently  necessary,   they   may  be 


CALENDAR  FOR  1749-1750  107 

undertaken  at  once  (the  Company's  warehouses  and  magazines 
must  be  situated  in  secure  places  within  the  forts) ;  to  appoint 
inspectors  (if  needed)  at  each  working  place  to  muster  the  coolies 
and  certify  the  bills  (which  must  be  countersigned  by  Robins 
himself)  with  which  the  Paymaster's  account  is  to  be  examined 
every  month  ;  if  Robins  is  dissatisfied  with  the  Paymaster's 
conduct,  he  may  require  his  dismissal ;  and  he  may  remove  from 
his  post  any  other  person  employed  on  the  works  ;  instructions 
regarding  the  defences  of  Calcutta  ;  John  Barker,  Nathaniel 
Carrington,  Charles  O'Hara,  Sampson  Morrice,  Charles  Knapton, 
and  Philip  Glass  appointed  Assistants,  to  be  employed  as  Robins 
directs;  he  is  to  draw  £20  a  month  for  their  diet  (with  a  pro- 
portionate abatement  should  any  die  or  be  dismissed) ;  they  are 
to  be  paid  as  salary,  Barker  £40  and  the  others  £20  each  per  annum, 
till  Robins  returns  to  Europe,  when  Barker  is  to  be  entertained  as 
Factor  with  rank  from  his  arrival  in  India  and  the  others  as  writers 
with  similar  standing  ;  any  other  of  the  Company's  servants  may 
be  employed  if  Robins  thinks  fit,  provided  that  if  they  are  above 
the  rank  of  writer,  they  agree  to  such  employment  ;  they  shall  not 
lose  pay,  rank  or  other  advantages  by  so  doing  ;  should  Robins 
leave  a  settlement  before  the  new  works  are  completed,  he  may 
leave  one  or  more  of  his  Assistants  to  complete  them  ;  they  are  to 
maintain  regular  journals,  showing  the  daily  progress,  men 
employed,  payments  made,  and  any  complaints  that  they  may 
have  to  make  to  Council  about  the  conduct  of  the  works,  which 
journals  are  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Company  through  Robins  ;  and 
they  may  depend  on  being  rewarded  in  proportion  to  their  good 
conduct;  to  secure  that  works  be  completed  according  to  the 
plan  on  which  they  may  be  begun,  Robins  is  to  prepare  large-scale 
plans,  or  if  necessary  large  models,  with  detailed  explanations ; 
he  is  to  correspond  directly  with  the  Company,  observe  the  latitude 
and  longitude  of  the  places  he  visits,  note  the  variation  of  the 
compass,  and  pursue  any  other  enquiries  for  the  inprovement  of 
Geography,  Navigation,  or  other  branch  of  useful  knowledge,  etc. 
Robins  is  to  receive  the  same  military  and  other  honours  as  the 
Third  in  Council.  All  the  Company's  servants  are  required  to 
facilitate  his  work  ;  he  is  under  covenants  to  remain  in  India  till  the 
sailing  of  the  last  ship  for  Europe  from  the  place  where  he  may  be 
in  the  months  of  January — March,  1754,  or,  in  case  he  loses  his 
passage  outwards,  1755  ;  he  is  to  receive  for  his  own  and  his  servants' 
diet  £10  a  month,  which  with  the  other  allowances  is  to  be  paid  at 
7s.  &cl.  per  pagoda;  he  is  to  be  paid  his  travelling  expenses  on  the 


108  THE   MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Company's  service,  and  those  of  his  Assistants  ;  and  the  charges  of 
putting  his  schemes  into  execution  are  to  be  entered  under  a  special 
head;  he  is  to  be  provided  with  quarters  in  the  Fort  or  elsewhere. 
Thomas  Heath,  who  was  sent  out  to  serve  under  Delevaux,  and 
reported  incapable  of  Engineer's  work,  is  to  be  tried  by  Robins  ; 
and,  if  really  incapable,  sent  home.  Robert  Barrowcliffe  (smith) 
and  Israel  Selfe  (carpenter)  sent  out  with  Robins,  to  serve  for 
5  years  from  their  arrival  at  £60  a  year. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India  House.    January  12,  1750.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  53,  pp.  67-73  [Original  7  pp.)] 

This  goes  by  the  Norfolk  which  will  bring  300  pipes  of  Madeira, 
half  of  which  is  for  Fort  St.  David  ;  her  officers  are  allowed  20  pipes 
on  their  privilege.  The  Kent,  London,  and  Lynn  are  directed  to  call  at 
Fort  St.  David  on  their  way  to  Bengal  to  land  their  bullion  and 
take  in  an  equal  amount  of  rupees  which  should  be  available  from 
the  bullion  landed  by  the  China  ships.  Usual  orders  to  send  all 
spare  silver  to  Bengal.  All  the  ships  are  again  sent  out  kintledged 
with  iron  which  must  be  deducted  from  the  charterparty  tonnage 
and  thus  will  facilitate  sending  more  ships  home.  Saltpetre  to  be 
put  on  board  only  if  needed  to  complete  the  charterparty  tonnage. 
Arrangements  to  be  made  with  the  other  Presidencies  to  send  home 
all  shipping  in  the  season  of  their  arrival.  If  any  ship  is  detained,  it 
should  be  the  London  and  she  should  be  employed  so  as  to  reimburse 
at  least  the  cost  of  demurrage.  Desire  one  or  two  ships  to  be 
despatched  if  possible  so  as  to  arrive  in  June  with  a  large  propor- 
tion of  fine  Coast  goods  to  be  included  in  the  September  sale. 

Direct  an  exact  list  of  all  books  and  papers  received  from  the 
French  at  Madras  to  be  compiled  and  sent  home.  Have  appointed 
Joseph  Cooper  a  writer.  Have  allowed  the  following  to  reside  in 
India :— Thomas  Whitlatch,  John  Brohier  and  Jacob  Dawson  as 
mariners;  John  Page  as  a  surgeon;  and  Joseph  Lowe  (now  in 
Bengal)  as  free  merchant.  The  reported  prevalence  of  gaming 
having  proved  true,  and  Floyer  and  other  senior  servants 
having  thus  occupied  almost  their  whole  time  to  the  general  dis- 
organisation of  the  Company's  affairs,  dismiss  Floyer  and  Holt  from 
their  service.  Appoint  a  new  Council,  to  consist  of  Thomas 
Saunders  (Governor),  Richard  Prince  (Second  with  succession  to 
the  chair),  Major  Lawrence,  Cornelius  Goodwin,  Richard  Starke, 
Joseph  Fowke,  Charles  Boddam,  Henry  Powney,  Robert  Goodere, 
George  Pigot  and  Samuel  Greenhaugh.     The   members  have    been 


CALENDAR  FOR  1749- 17 50  109 

chosen  according  to  '  their  real  standing  '  in  the  service.  Though 
Edward  Croke  has  been  omitted  from  the  Council,  he  may  continue 
in  the  service,  ranking  as  senior  merchant  next  under  Council,  with 
£200  a  year  in  lieu  of  all  pay  and  allowances.  Wynch  and  West- 
cott,  late  of  Council,  are  to  rank  as  they  would  have  done  had 
Madras  not  been  taken.  Vacancies  in  Council  are  to  be  filled  by 
the  next  in  standing,  unless  there  is  reason  to  the  contrary.  George 
Pigot,  who  became  a  prisoner  of  war  at  Madras  and  then  came 
home,  now  returns  to  his  duty.  The  whole  Council  must  take  the 
usual  oath  of  fidelity  and  furnish  the  usual  securities.  One  of  the 
ablest  of  Council  to  be  Chief  of  Vizagapatam  and  a  capable  person 
Chief  of  Ingeram.  Munro  and  Lightfoot  may  be  re-entertained  as 
Surgeons  at  Madras  if  they  apply  therefor.  Enquiry  to  be  made 
into  the  accounts  of  Floyer  and  all  others  concerned  in  the  late 
mismanagement,  as  there  is  reason  to  think  that  their  vast 
expenditure  has  not  been  properly  accounted  for.  Repeat  orders 
for  a  strict  enquiry  into  the  gaming  of  both  civil  and  military 
servants,  who  are  to  be  called  before  Council  and  acquainted  with 
the  Company's  orders. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas   Saunders,  etc. 
East  India   House.    March  22,    1750.     [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol  53,  pp.  75-79  (Copy  5  PP-)\ 
Ships'  sailings.  Have  taken  up  2  more  ships- — the  Benjamin 
for  the  Coast  and  Bay,  and  the  True  Briton  for  China.  The  former 
will  carry  an  additional  supply  of  treasure  to  Bengal  to  pay  off 
debts  contracted  there.  She  will  call  at  Fort  St.  David  if  she  can 
reach  it  by  August  15,  and  is  to  be  despatched  within  10  days  of 
her  arrival  with  all  the  rupees  on  hand  and  what  can  be  coined  in 
10  days,  an  equal  quantity  of  bullion  being  landed  out  of  her. 
Errors  in  the  bills  of  lading  for  goods  sent  from  Fort  St.  David  to 
Canton.  Extraordinary  omission  to  send  home  an  account  of  the 
great  storm  in  April  1749.  Defects  in  the  cloth  sent  home  from 
the  Coast.  Standing  order,  that  Minutes  of  Consultation  are  to  be 
signed  by  the  members  present  on  or  before  the  next  Consultation 
day,  and  the  duplicate  copy  to  be  signed  on  the  following  Consul- 
tation day  at  furthest.  No  person  to  be  allowed  to  come  home  until 
he  has  adjusted  his  accounts  with  the  Company.  Captain  Taylor 
of  the  Trial  snow  to  be  dismissed  for  misconduct  when  sent  to 
cruise  off  Bombay  against  the  Angria  pirates.  On  reconsidering 
the  advices  of  April  25,  1748,  regarding  Lawrence's  pay,  find  the 
alterat   ion  so   considerable   that  the    approval   already  given    is 


no  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

withdrawn.  Lawrence  is  to  have  only  what  was  agreed  upon — 
£250  a  year  with  the  usual  allowances  for  diet,  servants  and 
palankin  for  the  Third  of  Council,  and  the  clothing  of  his  company, 
without  any  other  allowances  or  pay  of  any  kind. 

The  Cash  accounts  show  that  Floyer  was  keeping  larger  cash 
balances  in  his  hands  than  was  ordered.  All  original  papers  that 
have  passed  between  Boscawen  and  the  Council  relative  to  pay- 
ments on  account  of  the  Fleet  and  Army  must  be  sent  home  with 
all  similar  papers  relating  to  Barnett,  Peyton  and  Griffin.  Captain 
Samuel  Hough  and  Peter  Downes  allowed  to  reside  in  India  as 
free  merchants.  Richard  Grindal  who  has  been  regularly  trained 
under  an  eminent  Hospital  Surgeon,  and  has  practised  in  London 
with  great  reputation,  will  go  out  next  season  as  Assistant  Surgeon, 
and  is  to  have  the  first  vacancy  of  Chief  Surgeon  after  Andrew 
Munro  and  Stephen  Lightfoot  have  been  provided  for. 


THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES.  1750-1751 


Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  David.    September  26,  1750.    [Public  Despatches  to 

England,  Vol.  18,  pp.  1-13  {Copy  1 3  pp.)) 

This  goes  by  the  Lapwing,  ordered  by  the  Bengal  Council  to 
call  here  for  despatches.  4  ships  for  China  arrived  and  were 
despatched  between  May  6  and  July  27 ;  4  more  arrived  and 
were  despatched  for  Bengal  between  July  6  and  September  15  ; 
and  a  fifth  which  has  arrived  will  sail  thither  in  a  few  days- 
Have  received  despatches  dated  November  3  and  December  8,  1749- 
and  January  12  and  March  22,  1750.  The  despatch  of  January  12 
arrived  by  the  Lynn  on  July  6.  Lawrence  was  the  only  member  of 
the  new  Council  on  the  spot.  He  at  once  sent  a  copy  to  the  members 
at  Madras,  who  desired  him  to  take  temporary  charge  of  Fort  St. 
David,  and  to  send  the  Brilliant  to  fetch  Saunders  from  Vizaga- 
patam.  Saunders  arrived  September  19.  Goodwin  and  Green- 
haugh  have  declined  the  Company's  service  on  the  score  of  ill- 
health. 

Regret  the  loss  of  the  Duke  of  Cumberland.  Have  sent  up  to 
Bengal  all  the  silver  that  could  be  coined  by  the  ships'  despatch. 
The  Swallow  arrived  from  Madagascar  with  245  coffrees  on  August 
28,  and  the  Fort  St.  George  with  114  on  September  7.  The  former 
will  be  sent  to  Sumatra  with  150  or  160 — all  she  will  be  able  to 
carry ;  the  rest  will  be  detained  here. 

Commodore  Lisle  returned  from  his  cruise  to  the  eastward  on 
September  23,  having  left  behind  him  Captain  Speke  with  the 
Swallow.  Lisle  has  sailed  for  Madras  to  join  the  Ruby  and  get  the 
orders  waiting  for  him  there.  Robins  arrived  on  the  Grantham  July 
14,  has  surveyed  the  works  here  and  at  Madras,  and  now  sends  his 
plans  and  observations. 

The  French  have  been  only  too  successful  in  their  destructive 
schemes  ;  but  advice  of  this  must  be  deferred  till  the  Fort  St.  George 
sails  next  month,  so  as  not  to  detain  the  Lapwing.  The  diamonds 
registered  amount  to  193.432  Pags. 

Appended  are  : — (i)  register  of  diamonds  ;  (.2)  sailing  orders 
for  the  Lapwing;  and  (3)  list  of  the  packet. 


H2  'THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

DESPATCH  FROM  THOMAS  SAUNDERS,  ETC.,  TO  THE  COMPANY. 
FORT  ST.  DAVID.  OCTOBER  24,  1750.  [Public  Despatches  to 
England,  Vol.  1 8,  pp.  14-47  (Copy  34  PP-)\ 

This  goes  by  the  Fort  St.  George.  Ships'  movements.  The 
Severn  had  25  chests  of  bullion  from  Bombay  for  Bengal,  which 
were  replaced  by  rupees  here,  and  she  was  despatched  September 
6.  Have  sent  160  slaves  to  Sumatra  by  the  Swallow  and  shall  send 
her  home  in  January.  Arrack,  timber  and  plank,  being  greatly 
needed  here,  will  be  brought  from  Batavia  by  the  Brilliant.  Will 
assist  to  the  utmost  in  sending  home  as  many  ships  as  possible. 
Have  desired  Bengal  to  send  down  2  ships  half-laded  to  be  filled 
up  here  in  January  ;  but  will  be  unable  to  assist  Bombay  in  filling 
2  ships  which  cannot  be  laded  on  that  coast.  Refer  to  the 
Company  Captain  Taylor's  claim  for  pay  as  Commander  of  the 
Tryal  from  January  to  March.  He  is  dismissed  the  service,  but  is  a 
very  capable,  industrious  man.  When  the  supercargoes  of  the  Port- 
field  applied  for  information  about  Borneo,  could  only  inform  them 
that  the  Captain  of  the  Delawar  had  written  to  the  late  Secretary 
Mole  of  his  ill-treatment  there  owing  to  the  machinations  of  the 
Dutch.  There  is  no  trade  between  Fort  St.  David  and  Borneo,  and 
no  linguist  could  be  supplied. 

Enumerate  damages  and  deficiencies  in  the  cargoes  sent  out 
from  Europe.  Have  received  1 50  pipes  of  Madeira  in  good  condi- 
tion ;  and  last  year's  supply  has  also  been  sent  down  from  Bengal. 
Could  procure  no  goods  suitable  to  lade  on  the  China  ships  as  there 
had  been  3  Macao  ships  on  the  Coast.  Have  sent  in  all  to  Bengal 
this  year  37,21,965  Rs.  and  66  chests  of  silver.  Have  written  to 
Bengal  for  5,000  bags  of  saltpetre,  as  Robins  considers  a  large  stock 
should  be  kept  in  hand  to  make  powder  ;  and  on  Lawrence's  advice 
have  applied  to  Bombay  for  7,000  barrels  of  gunpowder.  Silver  has 
been  cheap  and  rupees  at  400  or  more  per  100  Pags.,  owing  to 
Nasir  Jang's  army  (which  has  been  in  the  Carnatic  since  the  latter 
part  of  February)  being  paid  in  rupees.  On  the  other  hand  the 
War  has  made  every  one  hide  their  valuables,  so  that  there  is  a 
great  scarcity  of  gold,  and  it  has  been  difficult  to  get  pagodas 
even  to  pay  the  military,  and  the  Northern  investment  has  suffered 
much  for  lack  of  Madras  Pagodas.  The  only  remedy  seems  a  large 
importation  of  gold.  Beg  100,000  £  worth  of  silver  to  be  sent  out 
and  exchanged  for  gold  in  China  to  be  sent  to  the  Coast.  Will  obey 
orders  about  the  sale  of  the  Company's  goods,  but  apprehend  diffi- 
culties. Edwards  and  Linga  Chetti  declare  that  the  rupees  have 
always  been  kept  to  the  usual  standard;  more  samples  are  sent. 


CALENDAR  FOR   1750-1751  113 

When  the  merchants  were  questioned  about  the  investment  for 
the  year,  they  observed  that  the  armies  in  the  country  were  continu- 
ally oppressing  and  plundering  the  weavers,  and  insisted  on  being 
allowed  the  same  prices  as  last  year.  An  increase  is  expected  in 
the  Madras  investment;  orders  have  been  given  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  merchants  and  inhabitants  there.  Have  already  received 
462  bales  from  Vizagapatam  and  390  from  Ingeram  ;  hope  for  further 
bales  by  January  as  more  money  has  been  sent.  Fear  the  state  of 
the  country  may  prevent  the  completing  of  2  Bengal  ships  as 
well  as  the  despatch  of  the  Swallow  in  January. 

Soon  after  the  despatch  of  the  Elizabeth,  the  French,  etc.,  raised 
the  siege  of  Tanjore,  on  receipt  of  the  news  that  Nasir  Jang  had 
entered  the  province  and  detached  troops  to  relieve  Tanjore.  Their 
retreat  was  so  hasty  that  they  left  most  of  their  heavy  guns  and 
mortars  behind  them,  and  are  reckoned  to  have  lost  500  Europeans 
by  sickness,  etc.  Though  the  Marathas  were  sent  to  harass  them  on 
their  march,  they  reached  Pondichery  with  little  loss  about  the 
time  that  Nasir  Jang  reached  Arcot.  After  some  stay  there,  the  latter 
marched  to  Tiruviti  (25  miles  west  of  Fort  St.  David)  whence  he 
sent  a  vakil  to  Floyer  demanding  assistance.  The  French  at  this  time 
had  taken  the  field  again,  and  were  camped  20  miles  south-west 
of  Pondichery,  as  though  resolved  to  make  a  stand  there.  They 
had  about  1,000  Europeans,  2,000  sepoys  and  coffrees,  and  a  large 
train  of  Artillery,  with  15,000  horse  belonging  toMuzaffar  Jang  and 
Chunda  Sahib.  Cope  was  then  ordered  to  join  Nasir  Jang  from 
Trichinopoly,  and  Lawrence  soon  after  marched  with  the  troops 
that  could  be  spared  from  the  garrison.  After  Lawrence's  arrival, 
the  whole  army  advanced  ;  and,  after  a  day's  distant  and  ineffec- 
tive cannonade,  the  enemy  retreated  so  precipitately  as  to  leave 
behind  10  guns  and  2  cohorns  (the  greater  part  of  their  train \ 
the  people  belonging  to  which  were  cut  to  pieces.  The  Marathas 
pursued  the  enemy  as  soon  as  their  flight  was  known,  but  the  latter 
escaped  safely  to  Pondichery.  Muzaffar  Jang  separated  his 
troops  from  Chunda  Sahib's,  and  next  day  submitted  to  Nasir  Jang, 
who  put  him  in  confinement.  After  this  Nasir  Jang  advanced 
to  Valudavur,  7  miles  west  of  Pondichery,  but  would  not 
pass  beyond  that,  as  Lawrence  and  Westcott  informed  him  that 
the  English  could  not  act  against  the  French  in  their  Bounds, 
where  they  would  be  principals.  Nasir  Jang  remained  at 
Valudavur  about  a  month,  and  then  moved  to  Arcot.  He  desired 
the  English  to  accompany  him ;  but  Lawrence,  etc.,  insisted  on  first 
receiving  grants  of  the  Poonamallee  country,  to  which  demand 
*5 


II4  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Nasir    Jang   returned    no   answer;    and   the  English  troops  were 
recalled  and  reached  Fort  St.  David  April  22. 

Soon  after  this,  the  French  and  Chunda  Sahib  marched  out  and 
began  ravaging  and  levying  contributions  on   the  country.     They 
reached  and  captured  Tiruviti,   and  then  sent  a  party  to  Chidam- 
baram (25  miles  south-west  of  Fort  St.  David)  where  the  suburbs 
were  plundered,  and  a   large  .contribution  was  about  to  be  levied 
for  not  molesting  the  temple  there.     At   this  juncture  Muhammad 
Ali  wrote  to  Floyer,  saying  that  the  French  were  fortifying  them- 
selves in  Tiruviti,  declaring  that  a  sanad  granting  Poonamallee  to 
the  English   had   been  drawn  out   and  lodged  with  a  substantial 
merchant  of  Arcot,  to  be  delivered  when   Muhammad  Ali  became 
Nawab  in  September,  and  sending  a  copy  of  the  sanad  with  a  bill 
of  exchange  for  Rs.  20,000  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  troops  for 
two  months  in  lieu  of  the  Poonamallee  revenues  for  that  time.     As 
the  French  had  declared  that  they  would  make  Chunda   Sahib 
Nawab,   which   would  be  disastrous  to  the  English,  Cope  was  sent 
out  with   600  men   and   a  field-train  on  June   30,  and  joined  the 
Nawab  (who  had  come  from  Arcot  with  a  body  of  horse)  west  of 
Tiruviti.     The  French  then  withdrew  from  Chidambaram  without 
having  levied  their  contribution,   left   a   garrison   in   Tiruviti,   and 
retired.     Our  people  continued  in  camp  till  the  middle  of  August. 
The   French   and  Chunda  Sahib  had  come  out  again   and   were 
encamped   within   a  mile  of  us  west  of  Tiruviti  ;  but  there  was  no 
prospect  of  an  action,  as  we  could  not,  and  the  enemy  would   not, 
attack  ;  and  our  officers  and  men  were  daily  falling  sick.     On  this, 
Lawrence  with  the  advice  of   Starke   and    Powney    recalled   the 
troops.     A    few    days    later    the    French    attacked    the    Nawab, 
scattered  his  army,  and  burnt  his  camp.     He  fled  to  Gingee,  but, 
not  venturing  to  stand  a   siege  there,  retreated  inland,  on  which 
"  Gingee  was  captured  by  the  French. 

Nasir  Jang's  present  with  the  sundry  camp  charges  amounted 
to  25,71 5  Pags.  When  it  was  ready,  Westcott  set  out  with  it  to  join 
Lawrence.  For  details  of  the  embassy  refer  to  the  Ambassadors' 
Diary.*  All  they  could  get  was  fruitless  promises.  Muhammad 
Ali  has  been  appointed  Nawab  of  Arcot,  and  has  made  the  English 
a  grant  of  the  Tiruvendipuram  country  for  services  rendered. 

Now  he  and  Nasir  Jang  are  again  requesting  English  help. 
The  expense  of  an  expedition  will  be  large  ;  but  the  consequences 
of  French  success  will  be  fatal.  Have  sent  a  vakil  to  Nasir  Jang 
to  assure  him  of  our  readiness  to  assist  against  the  French  and 

*  A  copy  exists  in  the  Omie  MSS. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1750-1751  115 

Chunda  Sahib  provided  he  will  confirm  the  grants  of  the  countries 
promised  us,  but  also  to  declare  that  we  cannot  act'  against  the 
French  as  principals,  as  it  would  be  imprudent  to  make  promises 
which  we  could  not  keep.  If  our  demands  are  granted,  the 
revenues  of  the  countries  will  maintain  a  number  of  men  needed 
for  the  English  garrisons.  Understand  that  if  Nasir  Jang  is 
defeated,  he  will  give  the  province  over  to  be  plundered  by  the 
Marathas.  In  these  circumstances  submit  that  the  English  garrisons 
are  much  too  weak,  and  beg  large  reinforcements,  assuring  the 
Company  that  no  prejudicial  schemes  shall  be  entertained  and 
no  needless  expense  incurred. 

Andrews  has  again  been  plundered  at  Ganjam;  have  directed 
the  vakil  to  obtain  redress  from  Nasir  Jang. 

Since  Robins'  arrival,  no  repairs  to  buildings,  etc.,  have  been 
undertaken  without  his  approval.  Represent  the  great  difficulties 
caused  by  the  lack  of  warehouses ;  those  that  can  be  got  are 
scattered  here  and  there,  and  expensive  to  hire.  Again  the  ships 
have  to  lie  a  long  way  out ;  the  boats  are  few  and  ill-worked;  so 
that  even  in  the  fair  season  lading  is  a  tedious  business,  while 
gales  often  threaten  to  drive  the  ships  ashore.  The  Devikottai 
bounds  have  been  let  for  5  years  at  6,000  Pags.  a  year  and 
'  Cholagga'  Nayinar  has  been  appointed  Poligar  there.  As  soon  as 
Madras  is  fairly  resettled,  the  farms  shall  be  relet  at  their  full 
value ;  believe  that  the  continued  suspension  of  the  grain-duties 
there  for  6  months  more  will  induce  most  of  the  inhabitants  to 
return.  Up  till  now  the  Nawab  has  granted  St.  Thome  and  Tiru- 
vendipuram  with  their  dependencies,  and  promised  the  Poonamallee 
country ;  no  grants  have  yet  been  confirmed  by  Nasir  Jang. 
Hitherto  the  rents  of  the  new  grants  have  been  directly  collected  • 
but  it  is  intended  to  farm  them  out  at  an  annual  rent. 

The  Council  has  been  formed  according  to  the  Company's 
orders.  Westcott  and  Alexander  Wynch  have  replaced  Good- 
win and  Greenhaugh  who  declined  the  service.  Regarding 
Joseph  Fowke,  he  was  formerly  appointed  Second  at  Madras,  but 
was  not  then  allowed  to  take  up  the  post  as  he  had  declined 
rejoining  the  service  when  the  Company  permitted  the  readmission 
of  the  Madras  servants  ;  he  now  claims  that  the  Company  intended 
to  continue  him  there ;  the  matter  is  not  clear,  but,  in  order  not  to 
prejudice  the  consignments  that  are  made  to  him  at  Madras,  he 
has  been  allowed  to  continue  there  till  the  Company's  pleasure  is 
known.  Richard  Prince  continues  Deputy  Governor  at  Madras. 
Robert  Goodere,  who  has  resided  several  years  to  the  northward. 


116  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

has  been  made  Chief  of  Vizagapatam ;  and  John  Churchey 
Resident  at  Ingeram.  Arrival  of  Robins  and  his  assistants,  of 
wnom  Carrington  has  died.  Achilles  Preston  has  been  entertained 
in  his  place.  Fairfield  has  been  appointed  Sub-Accountant,  a 
laborious  post  which  carries  with  it  a  gratuity  at  the  other  presi- 
dencies. Richard  Turner,  writer,  died  on  May  3.  Captain- 
Lieutenant  James  Killpatrick  has  been  promoted  Captain  ;  Ensigns 
John  Innis  and  John  de  Mare,  Lieutenants  ;  John  Brohier,  Lieutenant 
in  the  Train  ;  and  Edward  Joseph  Cooper,  William  Harpur,  and 
John  Harrison,  Ensigns.  Captain  Dugald  MacDonald,  Lieutenants 
Peter  Nost  and  John  Turnbull,  and  Ensigns  Edward  Stubbs  and 
John  Holdman,  have  died.  Lieutenant  Francis  Cooke  and  Ensign 
Peter  Campbell  have  resigned.  Lieutenant  Philip  Bulkeley  prefers 
to  remain  in  the  Military  ;  he  was  appointed  Adjutant  at  Madras 
on  Cooke's  resignation. 

As  the  Company's  Artillery  Regulations  allow  Dumarchais  no 
hopes  of  promotion,  he  has  resigned  and  proposes  to  go  to  Batavia. 
Dawsonne  Drake  has  returned  from  China  and  been  admitted  into 
the  Company's  service  as  Military  Paymaster.  Dr.  Stephen 
Lightfoot  is  reported  to  have  died  in  Bengal.  Munro  is  Surgeon  at 
Madras ;  and  Turing  and  Wilson,  Surgeons  at  Fort  St.  David. 

Have  taken  off  the  pensions  as  directed.  The  ex-pensioners 
solicit  the  Company's  indulgence,  and  widows  Graham  and  Mansell 
are  living  on  private  charity.  Mr.  Baker  died  April  16.  The  Rev. 
Robert  Palk  has  been  obliged  by  private  affairs  to  embark  for 
Europe  ;  his  conduct  has  satisfied  all ;  recommend  him  in  case  he 
wishes  to  return.  Lawrence  has  resigned  and  now  goes  home  in 
company  with  Morse,  Floyer,  Belsches,  Lieutenant  Cooke,  Ensign 
Campbell,  Miss  Rous,  and  two  children.  Are  in  great  need  of 
covenanted  servants.  Do  not  find  that  gambling  has  been  prevalent. 
All  civil  and  military  servants  have  been  acquainted  with  the 
Company's  orders,  and  those  disobeying  them  will  be  dismissed. 

Stores  amounting  to  13.771  Pags.,  expended  in  the  siege  of 
Pondichery,  have  been  written  off.     Minor  errors  in  accounts. 

Have  appointed  a  Committee  of  Accounts;  send  their  report 
with  all  original  papers  relating  to  the  Squadron's  accounts,  with 
a  statement  of  the  Madras  claims  and  list  of  the  Madras  books. 
All  accounts  shall  be  kept  as  before  the  loss  of  Madras,  and  a 
strict  scrutiny  made.  Charles  Hopkins  reports  that  he  cannot 
balance  the  Madras  books  for  1746  as  several  papers  are  missing 
and  the  amounts  of  silver  sold  monthly  by  the  Warehouse-Keeper 
are  unknown. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1750-1751  117 

The  French  claim  to  act  as  principals,  on  which  ground  they 
have  at  different  times  protested  against  our  assisting  Muhammad 
Ali,  '  the  legal  Nawab.'  Forward  the  correspondence  that  has 
passed.  Will  take  no  'unwarrantable  steps'  but  will  do  every- 
thing possible  to  frustrate  their  schemes,  which  if  successful  would 
ruin  the  English  trade.  Hear  that  Yanam  has  been  destroyed  by  the 
Moors.  At  Masulipatam  the  French  factors  were  made  prisoners, 
but  since  then  the  French  have  recovered  their  factory  by  force, 
and  are  excluding  the  Moors  and  the  Dutch  from  any  trade  there. 
Are  surprised  that  the  Dutch  should  have  borne  so  many  insults 
without  showing  resentment.  Six  ships  have  reached  Pondichery 
this  year,  said  to  have  brought  treasure  worth  10  millions  of  livres; 
some  recruits  have  arrived,  and  a  large  body  is  said  to  be  coming. 
2  ships  have  been  despatched  to  the  Islands  with  about  200 
bales,  redwood,  etc.  ;  it  is  thought  they  will  be  filled  up  with  coffee. 
In  spite  of  the  great  sum  sent  out,  the  French  investment  does  not 
appear  to  be  considerable. 

In  April  Father  Angelo  de  Gertrude,  claiming  to  be  Resident 
for  the  Emperor  at  Covelong,  desired  the  English  to  procure  him 
a  farman  for  that  place  from  Nasir  Jang  ;  the  request  was  declined. 
The  Viceroy  of  Goa  also  has  complained  of  the  seizure  of  Padre 
Antonio  and  of  the  occupation  of  St.  Thome  ;  he  has  been  referred 
to  Europe. 

Lisle  with  His  Majesty's  ships  Vigilant  and  Ruby  sailed  for 
Bombay  on  October  14.  On  Lisle's  request,  the  King's  stores  left 
behind  at  Madras  have  been  taken  over  for  the  Company's  use  or  for 
sale  at  outcry.  Belsches  has  delivered  in  his  accounts,  and  paid 
the  deductions  as  ordered  ;  he  has  signed  a  bond  for  the  repayment 
of  any  further  deductions. 

Regarding  the  I0£  permission  money  for  passages,  Morse  and 
Floyer  say  it  was  never  paid  by  the  Company's  Governors; 
Belsches  says  that  Dr.  Douglas  was  excused  paying  it;  and 
Lawrence  and  the  other  officers  declare  that  officers  never  paid  it ; 
the  Madras  records  show  that  this  was  the  case;  so  it  has  not 
been  insisted  on.  Have  put  condemned  guns  aboard  the  ship  to 
stiffen  her  at  the  Captain's  desire.  The  cargo  is  invoiced  at 
163,724  Pags.  Diamonds,  etc.,  registered  43,095  Pags.  Balance  in 
cash  33,460  Star  and  129  Madras  Pags.  Bills  have  been  drawn  on 
the  Company  for  458  Pags. 

Appended  are: — (i)  register  of  diamonds;  (2)  list  of  the 
Company's  revenues  at  Fort  St.  David,  May  1,  1749  to  April  30, 
1750 : — farms,  5,700  Pags.;  customs  and  quit-rent,  29,838  Pags.;  at 


118  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Tiruvendipuram  (amount  collected  from  February  27  to  October  24), 
831  Pags. ;  at  Devikottai  (revenue  produced  by  the  crop  at  the  time 
it  was  taken)  4,000  Pags.,  now  farmed  out  at  6,000  Pags.  a  year  ; 
(3)  list  of  the  packet ;  and  (4)  sailing  orders  for  the  Fort  St.  George. 
DESPATCH  FROM  THOMAS  SAUNDERS,  ETC.,  TO  THE  COMPANY. 
FORT  ST.  DAVID.  NOVEMBER  3,  1750.  [Public  Despatches  to 
England,  Vol.  18,  pp.  48-49  {Copy  ll/2  />/>•)] 
Send  this  to  Bombay  to  be  forwarded  overland  to  report  the 
arrival  of  all  ships  destined  for  the  Coast  except  the  Duke  of 
Cumberland.  The  China  ships  were  despatched  in  good  time  and 
the  Bengal  ships  with  all  the  rupees  that  could  be  spared.  Loss 
of  the  Lynn  in  the  Hugli.  The  Fort  St.  George  was  late  in  being 
despatched,  but  the  weather  has  continued  moderate  with  westerly 
winds,  and  she  should  by  now  have  got  out  of  the  Bay.  Hope  to 
be  able  to  complete  2  Bengal  ships  in  January  and  lade  the 
Swallow  with  fine  goods  if  she  returns  early  enough  from  Sumatra. 
There  is  no  change  in  the  political  situation  ;  but  our  vakil  has 
seen  Nasir  Jang,  and  gives  hopes  of  success. 

DESPATCH  FROM  THOMAS  SAUNDERS,  ETC.,  TO  THE  COMPANY. 
FORT  St.  DAVID.  JANUARY  24,  175 1.  [Public  Despatches  to 
England,  Vol.  1 9,  pp,  l~7  {Copy  7  pp.)  Damaged;  also  India 
Office  transcript,  Factory  Records,  Fort  St.  David,  Vol.  II,  pp.  1-8.] 
Have  already  written  by  the  Don  Carlos  bound  for  Persia  about 
'  the  unexpected  revolution.'  When  Chunda  Sahib's  affairs  seemed 
desperate,  Nasir  Jang  was  treacherously  murdered  by  the  Nawabs 
of  Cuddapah  and  Kurnool ;  and  at  the  sight  of  his  head  exposed 
upon  a  spear  his  army  at  once  ceased  to  resist  the  French  who 
had  attacked  them.  Muzaffar  Jang  was  proclaimed  Prince  of  the 
Deccan  ;  the  officers  paid  him  homage,  and  in  a  few  hours  order 
was  completely  restored  in  the  camp.  A  few  days  afterwards, 
they  marched  to  Pondichery,  with  Nasir  Jang's  three  brothers  as 
prisoners,  and  made  a  grand  entry  ;  handsome  rewards  were  given 
to  the  officers  ;  it  is  reported  Dupleix  got  an  immense  sum  in  jewels 
and  treasure,  and  that  the  French  Company  will  be  reimbursed  for 
its  expenditure  and  receive  grants  of  inland  countries  and  sea-ports. 
They  already  hold  Masulipatam,  Covelong  and  Nagore,  and  are 
said  to  contemplate  building  a  fort  on  Divi  Island.  The  Durbar  of 
Muzaffar  Jang  is  wholly  under  French  influence.  It  was  deemed 
necessary  that  a  French  force  should  proceed  to  Golconda  to 
secure  Nasir  Jang's  treasure  and  firmly  establish  Muzaffar  Jang 
there   before   any   party    could  be    raised    against    him.     He    has 


CALENDAR  FOR   1750-1751  TIQ 

already  marched  as  far  as  Arcot.  A  Maratha  army  is  reported  to 
be  on  this  side  of  the  Kistna.  He  has  300  French  and  9  field-guns 
with  him  ;  but  it  is  hoped  that  the  long  marches  and  heat  will 
destroy  most  of  them.  Many  are  said  already  to  have  deserted. 
On  departing,  Muzaffar  Jang  appointed  Chunda  Sahib  to  the 
Government  of  Arcot  having  already  allied  himself  with  the 
French;  and,  it  is  said,  left  the  province  entirely  under  Dupleix' 
control. 

While  at  Pondichery  Muzaffar  Jang  and  Chunda  Sahib  wrote  to 
the  English  demanding  the  restoration  of  the  sea-ports  they  had 
occupied  during  the  troubles ;  so  no  favours  can  be  expected  from 
the  present  Government.  It  is  generally  believed  that  Nasir  Jang's 
family  will  oppose  Muzaffar  Jang.  The  revolution  has  alarmed 
the  King  of  Tanjore  who  has  demanded  English  assistance  in 
consequence  of  a  treaty  made  with  Floyer ;  Muhammad  AH  (who 
luckily  escaped  to  Trichinopoly)  has  also  put  in  claims  to  our 
support.  As  the  murder  of  Nasir  Jang  was  an  act  of  violence, 
contrary  to  the  law  of  nations,  the  traitors  cannot  possess  legal 
authority.  As  Muhammad  Ali  was  appointed  Nawab  of  Arcot  by 
Nasir  Jang,  he  is  the  legal  prince  till  an  appointment  is  made  from 
Delhi.  Have  received  farmans  for  the  districts  granted  by  him  in 
consideration  for  the  English  alliance,  in  fulfilment  of  which  a 
detachment  has  been  sent  to  Trichinopoly  under  Captain  Cope  to 
secure  it  from  any  attempts  by  Chunda  Sahib.  Lieutenant  Pascall 
has  been  sent  with  a  detachment  to  assist  the  King  of  Tanjore  in 
consideration  of  a  farman  for  Devikottai  and  its  bounds  from  the 
King.  Intend  sending  Charles  Hopkins  to  Divi  Island  and 
Masulipatam  to  plant  the  English  colours  on  the  Island  and  in  the 
English  factory.     Shall  orotest  if  any  insult  is  offered  them. 

The  Carnatic  is  likely  to  be  the  scene  of  war  for  many  years  ; 
force  of  arms  is  now  the  only  title  to  the  Government;  and  the 
success  of  the  Company's  affairs  depends  greatly  on  having  a 
force  to  counterbalance  that  of  the  French  who  are  said  to  expect 
great  reinforcements.  The  revenues  of  the  English  grants  amount 
to  50,000  Pags. — St.  Thome  6,000,  Poonamallee  at  least  30,000, 
Devikottai  6,000,  and  Tiruvendipuram  8,000.     Shipping  news. 

Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  David.  February  7,  1751.  [Public  Despatches  to 
England,  Vol.  18,  pp.  49-83  {Copy  35  pp.)] 

Cite  despatch  of  January  24  sent  via  Persia.  Now  write  by  the 
Severn  which   arrived  here   January   21.     The  Norfolk  has  not  yet 


120  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

come  in  sight.  Have  ordered  the  Britannia  now  lying  at  Madras 
to  be  sent  if  possible  to  Tellicherry  to  take  in  surplus  pepper  there 
for  Europe. 

When  the  broadcloth  was  about  to  be  put  up  at  public  outcry 
according  to  the  Company's  orders,  Linga  Chetti  petitioned,  saying 
that  he  had  long  served  the  Company  faithfully,  that  he  had  bought 
broadcloth  when  no  one  else  would  venture  on  it,  that  it  had 
been  promised  him  by  Floyer,  and  that  should  the  new  supply 
be  sold  in  small  lots  at  the  limited  price  less  9  %  for  prompt 
payment,  the  purchasers  would  be  able  to  undersell  him,  he  still 
having  a  large  stock  on  hand.  As  these  facts  were  not  known  to 
the  Company,  it  was  decided  to  let  Linga  Chetti  have  the  broad- 
cloth this  time,  but  to  allow  him  no  claim  upon  it  in  future.  The 
copper  sent  has  been  sold  at  Madras  at  79K  Pags.  the  candy. 

Have  had  ill-fortune  with  the  coffrees,  86  of  whom  died  in  spite 
of  every  care.  The  rest  are  now  well ;  the  men  are  trained  to  arms, 
and  the  women  will  be  sent  to  Sumatra. 

Two  country  vessels  with  40  chests  of  rupees  for  Bengal  lost 
their  passage  and  put  into  Vizagapatam  ;  but  it  is  hoped  that  the 
treasure  will  reach  Bengal  in  time  to  be  of  use.  Owing  to  un- 
accountable deficiencies  in  the  goods  and  treasure  sent  lately  to 
Bengal,  shall  insist  on  the  Captain  or  Purser  seeing  all  goods 
weighed  and  paying  for  deficiencies. 

Learn  from  Bombay  that  900  barrels  of  gunpowder  can  be 
supplied  yearly  ;  have  embraced  this  offer  as  the  Bombay  gun- 
powder is  much  better  than  that  made  on  the  Coast.  Rupees  are 
still  as  low  as  382  per  100  Pags.  Have  ordered  all  receipts  and 
payments  to  be  made  in  pagodas.  This  has  supplied  gold  enough 
to  pay  the  military  who  were  very  discontented ;  but  still  lack 
pagodas  for  the  investment.  As  such  large  amounts  of  silver  were 
sent  to  Bengal,  there  was  not  enough  remaining  here  to  answer  the 
merchants'  requirements,  and  so  20  chests  of  bullion  have  been 
taken  out  of  the  Britannia. 

In  spite  of  disappointments,  will  be  able  to  fill  up  the  Severn, 
Norfolk  and  Swallow.  Madras  has  not  supplied  the  expected 
number  of  bales,  owing  (it  is  reported)  to  the  troubled  state  of  the 
country  ;  and  the  Northern  investment  was  greatly  affected  by 
2  ships  with  supplies  of  money  for  Vizagapatam  losing  their 
passages.  Violent  rains  from  the  beginning  of  October  to  the  end 
of  December  prevented  washing;  and  it  was  thought  better  to 
send  cloth  unbleached  than  detain  the  ships.  Have  made  no 
advances  lately  to  the  merchants  owing  to  the  low  price  of  rupees. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1750-1751  121 

Affairs  are  too  uncertain  to  make  any  promises  at  present  about 
this  year's  investment. 

The  fort  of  Poonamallee  (though  not  included  in  the  farman 
and  not  the  Company's  property)  has  been  handed  over  by  the 
Killedar.  Prince  has  sent  a  detachment  there  under  Lieutenant 
Campbell,  and  made  a  few  small  repairs.  That  district  reaches 
20  miles  from  Madras,  as  do  parts  of  the  Tiruvendipuram  country 
from  Fort  St.  David.  Military  expenses  have  been  small  ;  25,000 
Rs.  have  been  received  from  the  King  of  Tanjore  since  October, 
and  16,000  from  Muhammad  Ali  on  account  of  a  former  expedition. 

Consider  that  the  whole  success  of  the  Company's  affairs  here 
depends  on  having  '  a  force  to  curb  the  French.'  It  might  have 
been  better  for  trade  if  the  Country  powers  had  been  left  to  decide 
their  own  quarrels  ;  but  once  the  French  attempted  to  surround  the 
English  settlements  so  as  to  be  able  to  cut  off  their  trade  and  sup- 
plies of  provisions,  it  was  judged  necessary  to  oppose  them,  to 
avoid  a  situation  ill  in  peace  and  worse  in  war.  The  troubles  in 
the  province  leading  up  to  Nasir  Jang's  death  will  no  doubt  be 
variously  represented  at  Court ;  to  secure  proper  comprehension  of 
the  conduct  of  the  English,  will  send  letters  with  an  impartial 
account  of  all  that  has  happened  since  the  coming  of  Chunda  Sahib 
and  Muzaffar  Jang. 

Robins  sends  a  particular  account  of  the  additions,  etc.,  necessary 
to  the  fortifications.  The  excessive  rains  have  hindered  the  works, 
which  consist  in  pallisading  the  covered  way,  completing  the  glacis, 
and  digging  a  dry  ditch  south  of  the  fort.  There  being  insufficient 
quarters  for  the  officers,  have  resolved  to  build  lodgings  which 
Robins  estimates  to  cost  1,981  Pags.  At  present  the  only  hospi- 
tal is  an  old,  ruinous  building  at  Cuddalore,  where  the  men  are 
exposed  to  the  severity  of  the  weather,  probably  at  the  cost  of 
many  lives.  A  hospital  to  receive  200  men  is  estimated  to  cost 
8,492  Pags.  and  will  be  begun  as  soon  as  the  season  permits. 
Devikottai  fort,  having  suffered  by  the  rains,  has  been  ordered 
to  be  surveyed.  Godown-hire  and  extra  coolies  for  rice  alone 
cost  3,500  Pags.  a  year;  if  similar  charges  on  the  rest  of  the 
Company's  goods  were  added  in,  it  would  go  a  long  way  towards 
paying  for  the  necessary  buildings.  But  this  must  await  the  Com- 
pany's decision  regarding  the  seat  of  the  Presidency.  As  only  831 
Pags.  had  been  collected  in  the  Tiruvendipuram  country  since 
March,  and  the  collection  was  troublesome,  it/has  been  rented  out 
for  8,000  Pags.  a  year.  St.  Thome  also,  producing  only  2,106  Pags. 
in  the  last  year,  has  been  rented  at  4,000  Pags.  a  year  exclusive 
16 


122  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

i 

of  sea-  and  land-customs.  Do  not  yet  know  the  number  of  villages 
in  the  Poonamallee  district  or  its  annual  revenue  ;  but  as  in  direct 
collection  the  money  passes  through  so  many  hands  that  half  is 
lost,  have  resolved  to  rent  this  out  also. 

There  has  been  a  decrease  in  land-customs  of  754  Pags.  and 
in  sea-customs  of  5,389  Pags.;  ascribe  this  to  the  discourage- 
ment of  trade  by  the  inevitable  slowness  in  despatching  ships,  lack 
of  godowns.  etc.  ;  whereas  Madras  is  now  resettled,  ships  can  be 
quickly  despatched  thence,  and  there  are  plenty  of  warehouses, etc. 
Rice  at  Fort  St.  David  is  85  Pags.  the  garse  and  at  Madras  only 
65  ;  yet  owing  to  the  rapidity  of  despatch  at  Madras  50  grain- 
vessels  have  put  in  there  and  only  5  at  Fort  St.  David.  The  farms 
at  Madras  have  been  let  out  for  one  year. 

On  Starke's  being  appointed  to  Fort  St.  David,  Thomas  Cooke 
was  sent  as  Second  to  Madras.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Swinfen  died  at 
Madras,  November  17;  James  Wilson  at  present  officiates  as 
Chaplain  there  with  the  allowance  usual  at  subordinacies.  Charles 
Hopkins  (who  resigned  owing  to  ill-health)  has  now  desired  per- 
mission to  .execute  the  covenants  sent  out  for  him  and  has  been 
allowed  to  do  so.  John  Palmer  who  has  served  for  some  years 
under  the  Secretary  and  Accountant,  is  recommended  for  appoint- 
ment as  a  Writer.  William  Percival,  having  applied  for  admission 
into  Council  at  Madras  and  been  refused,  has  resigned  the  service. 
He  was  originally  posted  to  Fort  St.  David,  but  was  allowed  to 
remain  at  Madras  in  charge  of  the  sea-  and  land-customs  for  the 
sake  of  his  private  trade.  The  Madras  Council  was  appointed 
before  Percival  came  down  from  Bengal  in  January,  and  he  made 
no  complaint  till  November;  moreover  he  refuses  to  serve  at  Fort 
St.  David,  which  from  a  commercial  point  of  view  is  far  less 
advantageous  than  Madras.  Charles  Boddam  arrived  and  took  his 
seat  in  Council,  January  17.  Andrews  reports  from  Ganjam  that 
upwards  of  16,000  Rs.  was  extorted  from  him.  That  settlement 
has  produced  constant  expenditure  for  a  trifling  investment ;  the 
death  of  Nasir  Jang  has  rendered  redress  impossible;  so  it  has 
been  decided  to  withdraw  the  factory. 

As  the  Bombay  detachment  had  outstayed  the  period  agreed 
upon,  and  were  continually  murmuring,  as  well  as  being  a  con- 
siderable expense,  most  of  them  have  been  sent  back  with  their 
Captain,  Thomas  Andrews,  who  has  behaved  very  well.  On  Nasir 
Jang's  death  an  attack  was  feared ;  on  which  the  Company's 
servants  lent  their  horses  for  the  formation  of  a  small  troop. 
Sergeant    Trussler,   a   well-behaved   and   gallant   man,    has  been 


CALENDAR  FOR  1750-1751  123 

promoted  Ensign  ;  Lieutenant  James  Hocket  of  the  Train  has 
on  Robins'  recommendation  been  promoted  Captain-Lieutenant ; 
Lieutenant  John  Hood  has  been  promoted  Captain-Lieutenant 
in  Sumatra,  and  will  proceed  thither  by  the  first  conveyance.  Not 
having  men  enough  to  form  an  Artillery  company  at  Madras,  nor 
any  to  spare  for  Vizagapatam,  request  100  able  recruits  for  the 
Artillery. 

Fowke  and  Greenhaugh  ('  Church  Wardens  of  the  Parish  of  St. 
Mary's  Stepney ')  request  that  the  Company  will  collect  from 
Samuel  Harrison  2,325  Pags.  due  to  the  church  stock. 

Have  received  into  the  Company's  cash  550  Pags.  on 
account  of  William  Petch's  estate  and  431  on  account  of  Swinfen's. 
It  has  proved  impossible  to  balance  the  Madras  books  for  1746  for 
lack  of  the  books  of  the  dependent  factories.  Appointed  Starke, 
Boddam,  Westcott,  Powney  and  Wynch  a  Committee  to  investigate 
the  Fort  St.  David  accounts.  The  Accountant's  annual  report  shows 
that  the  expenditure  of  last  year  was  materially  reduced.  In  Nov- 
ember 250  peons  and  120  lascars  were  dismissed  ;  but  the  general 
reduction  then  resolved  on  was  stopped  by  the  death  of  Nasir 
Jang  which  has  probably  involved  the  province  in  lasting  troubles. 

Hoped  to  have  had  no  more  correspondence  with  Dupleix,  but 
it  has  been  revived  by  complaints  that  Goodere  wrote  promising 
to  assist  the  Moors  against  Yanam  and  that  Captain  Dalton 
had  used  improper  expressions  about  the  French.  Goodere's  letter 
has  been  wrongly  translated ;  Dalton's  letter  was  addressed  to  a 
deserter  named  Keene,  and  could  not  have  been  noticed  but  by 
one  determined  to  wrangle.  The  French  are  attempting  to  estab- 
lish themselves  in  the  best  places  for  trade,  without  the  least 
regard  for  their  neighbours.  They  expect  a  ship  from  Mahe 
with  300  Europeans ;  and  say  2,000  will  come  out  on  the  next  ships. 
A  ship  left  Pondichery  for  Mocha  on  January  30 ;  another  is 
about  to  sail ;  and  3  more  are  said  to  be.  intended  for  France 
with  cargoes  mostly  of  Bengal  goods.  A  brigantine  with  men  and 
stores  was  sent  lately  to  Masulipatam  which  they  are  said  to  be 
going  to  fortify. 

Supplement :  The  Britannia  had  sailed  for  Bengal  before  the 
orders  were  received  for  her  to  proceed  to  Tellicherry.  The 
Swallow,  just  arrived  from  Sumatra,  is  proceeding  to  Bengal  for 
rice  and  will  be  despatched  home  in  May,  by  which  time  there  will 
be  a  cargo  of  bleached  cloth  ready  for  her.  She  will  land  Charles 
Hopkins  at  Masulipatam.  Robins  proposes  to  goon  her  to  Bengal, 
returning  in  March. 


124  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Send  a  section  separate  from  Consultations  entitled  '  Extra- 
ordinary Occurrences,'  containing  matters  which  it  was  desired 
to  keep  as  private  as  possible.  Dorrill's  homeward  adventure  from 
here  is  730  Pags.  The  Norfolk  has  just  arrived.  The  Severn's 
Coromandel  cargo  is  invoiced  at  89,896  Pags.  Diamonds,  etc., 
registered,  112,566  Pags.  Balance  in  cash  22,984  Star  and  136 
Madras  Pags.  Bills  drawn  on  the  Company  for  2,247  Pags.;, 
and  certificates  granted  for  236  Pags. 

Appended  are: — (1)  register  of  diamonds,  etc.;  (2)  manifest 
of  Dorrill's  private  adventure  (60  tubs  of  camphor  valued  at  730 
Pags.);  (3)  sailing  orders  for  the  Severn;  and  (4)  list  of  the  packet. 

DESPATCH  FROM   THOMAS   SAUNDERS,  ETC.,  TO  THE  COMPANY. 

Fort  St.  David.    February  24,  1751.    [Public  Despatches  to 
England,  Vol.  1 8,  pp.  84-90  {Copy  6  pp.)] 

Now  despatch  the  Norfolk-  Robins  has  sailed  on  the  Swallow 
for  Bengal  and  will  return  in  April;  Charles  Hopkins  also  sailed 
on  her  for  Masulipatam  and  Divi  Island.  Shipping  news.  Desire 
larger  supplies  of  medicines,  as  the  number  of  sick  in  hospital  has 
increased.  A  small  quantity  of  damaged  pepper  has  been  sold 
here  at  54i  Pags.  the  candy.  Have  about  600  bales  of  cloth  which 
will  be  bleached  in  time  for  the  Swallow.  Have  sent  to  Vizaga- 
patam  and  Ingeram  96,000  Rs.  and  10,000  Pags. ;  will  send  more 
pagodas  shortly. 

Have  already  reported  the  death  of  Nasir  Jang  and  the  steps 
taken  by  the  English  on  the  best  information  that  could  be  got 
from  the  camp  before  Pondichery.  The  rebels,  who  had  been 
bribed  by  the  French,  were  at  first  pleased;  but  when  they  saw 
Pondichery  the  metropolis  of  the  province,  all  things  determined 
by  the  French,  most  of  the  treasure  and  jewels  taken  by  them,  and 
several  large  districts  to  be  granted  to  them,  there  was  great 
discontent  which  (it  was  whispered)  would  break  out  as  soon  as 
Muzaffar  Jang  left  the  province.  He  therefore  took  a  French 
escort  with  him.  The  English  Vakil  at  Arcot  writes  that  when  he 
reached  Rayachuti  (5  days'  march  from  Arcot  and  in  the  dominions 
of  the  Nawab  of  Cuddapah),  the  latter  and  the  Nawab  of  Kurnool 
complained  that  Muzaffar  Jang  was  exposing  their  countries  to  be 
plundered  by  the  Marathas,  in  marching  through  it  contrary  to  his 
promise ;  seized  some  French  horse ;  and  stopped  the  French 
ammunition.  A  battle  ensued  in  which  Muzaffar  Jang  and  part  of 
the  French  were  killed  on  one  side,  and  on  the  other  the  Nawabs 
of  Kurnool  and  Sirpi.     After  this  Nizam    Ali  Khan  (Nasir  Jang's 


CALENDAR  FOR   1750  175!  125 

brother)  was  proclaimed  Subahdar  and  is  proceeding  by  slow 
marches  to  Golconda.  The  friends  of  the  Cuddapah  and  Kurnool 
Nawabs  are  said  to  be  collecting  forces  to  oppose  him.  Do  not 
know  what  the  issue  of  this  may  be.  Nizam  Ali  is  a  youth  of  18, 
and  has  several  of  the  French  party  near  him.  The  destruction  of 
the  whole  of  Nizam-ul-mulk's  family  might  be  welcome  at  Delhi. 
Muhammad  Ali  Khan,  who  is  safe  at  Trichinopoly,  has  been 
advised  to  push  his  interest  at  Delhi  and  to  collect  troops  to  oppose 
his  enemies.  The  English  measures  have  at  least  prevented  the 
province  from  falling  entirely  under  French  control.  Could  the 
Country  Governments  settle  their  own  affairs,  peace  might  be 
hoped  for ;  but  that  is  impossible.  The  French  are  resolved  to 
seize  whatever  parts  of  the  province  they  desire,  without  regard  to 
the  laws  of  nations.  They  persist  in  supporting  Chunda  Sahib  as 
Nawab  of  Arcot,  and  will  probably  insist  on  retaining  all  Muzaffar 
Jang's  grants.  Our  officer  at  Tanjore  writes  that  one  of  our  colours 
has  been  pulled  down  and  that  the  French  declare  it  was  done  by 
the  country  people.  A  ship's  master  from  Masulipatam  reports 
that  the  French  have  turned  the  English  factory  there  into  a 
hospital.  It  is  said  they  have  hoisted  their  colours  at  Narsapur 
(near  Madapollam)  and  claim  exclusive  rights  of  trade  in  the  river 
there.  After  Nasir  Jang's  death,  by  a  grant  of  Muzaffar  Jang, 
they  planted  their  flags  all  along  the  English  bounds.  Have 
protested  against  these  actions  to  Dupleix. 

At  Madras  the  Betel  and  Tobacco  farm  has  been  let  for  one 
year  at  4,000  Pags.,  the  Measuring  Duty  at  1,000,  and  the  Town 
Brokerage  at  700.  On  February  3,  Thomas  Eyre  (late  of  Council 
at  Madras)  died  there.  Send  translations  of  the  several  farmans  at 
Madras  and  Fort  St.  David;  but  many  at  the  former  place  were  lost 
when  the  Town  was  taken.  The  saltpetre  sent  from  Bengal  by  the 
Norfolk  is  8  candies  short ;  the  Captain  alleges  the  bags  were  so  bad 
that  they  broke  as  they  were  being  stowed  away.  A  French  ship 
sailed  recently  for  Europe  with  310  bales  of  cloth,  60  tons  of  pepper 
and  20  of  redwood.  The  present  ship's  cargo  is  invoiced  at  69,960 
Pags.  ;  diamonds,  etc.,  registered  1,03,848  Pags.  ;  bills  drawn  on  the 
Company  for  1,048  Pags.;  and  certificates  granted  for  5,121  Pags. 

Appended  are: — (i)  register  of  diamonds;  (2)  manifest  of 
private  trade  ;  (3)  sailing  orders  for  the  Norfolk;  (4)  list  of  the 
Company's  revenues  at  Fort  St.  David,  Fixed  5,700  Pags.,  Variable 
18,402  Pags.;  at  Devikottai,  6,000  Pags.;  at  Tiruvendipuram  8,000 
Pags.;  and  at  Fort  St.  George  47,200  Pags.;  and  (5)  list  of  the 
packet. 


126  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India  House.    November  28, 1750.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  54,  pp.  21-30  {Original  10  pp.)] 

Cite  despatch  of  March  22.  Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  des- 
patches of  May  II,  August  30,  October  9  and  18,  and  November  2, 
1749.  Have  taken  up  15  ships  for  this  season,  of  which  4  will 
call  at  Fort  St.  David  on  their  way  to  China  and  5  are  destined 
for  the  Coast  and  Bay.  The  Company's  ship  Dragon  has  been 
lengthened  to  a  burden  of  350  tons,  and  is  also  destined  for  the 
Coast  and  Bay.  The  Committee  of  Secrecy  named.  The  Dragon 
will  bring  60  chests  of  bullion  for  Bengal  to  be  coined  without 
delay  at  Fort  St.  David  ;  no  part  of  this  is  to  be  detained  on  the 
Coast,  as  was  done  in  the  case  of  the  Lapwing's  silver  '  by  a  mean, 
pitiful  evasion  of  our  orders.'  The  Dragon  is  to  be  despatched 
homeward  early  with  a  cargo  of  fine  goods,  calling  at  Fort  St. 
David  for  despatches  with  a  full  account  of  all  transactions  on 
the  Coast.  When  the  China  ships  have  landed  their  Fort  St.  David 
consignments  of  bullion,  etc.,  they  should  be  despatched  at  once 
for  Canton.  The  China  supercargoes  named.  Cargoes  should  be 
put  aboard  the  China  ships  if  it  can  be  done  without  loss  of  time. 
Captains  Mason  (of  the  Dodington)  and  Lindsay  (of  the  Pelham) 
having  deceived  the  people  at  Quedda,  the  China  ships  are  not  to 
touch  there  unless  their  resentment  is  subsided.  A  full  report  of 
*  this  affair  is  to  be  made  to  the  supercargoes  of  the  China  ships. 
The  Warwick  will  bring  30  chests  of  bullion,  150  pipes  of  Madeira 
for  the  Coast,  and  other  goods.  She  is  to  be  despatched  to  Bengal 
with  all  the  treasure  that  can  be  spared.  The  remaining  Coast 
and  Bay  ships  will  sail  in  mid-January  with  valuable  consign- 
ments at  least  equal  to  those  of  last  year.  The  ships  of  this  season 
carry  only  half  their  kintledge  in  iron  ;  the  other  half  must  be  made 
up  in  saltpetre,  40  tons  on  each  ship.  Trust  that  in  the  next 
season  not  only  the  ships  remaining  over  from  former  years  but 
also  all  or  most  of  the  ships  sent  out  this  season  may  be  sent 
home.  To  facilitate  this,  Bengal  has  been  ordered  to  send  down 
a  sufficient  stock  of  saltpetre  with  which  t^e  cargoes  may  be 
completed,  and  Bombay  has  been  ordered  to  send  to  the  Coast  what 
surplus  pepper  can  be  got,  if  it  is  not  too  dear.  If  any  ship  has  to 
be  detained  in  India,  it  should  be  the  Wager.  The  Scarborough 
should  be  sent  home  in  the  season  of  her  arrival.  Stores,  etc.,  for 
Sumatra.  Any  shortage  of  delivery  should  be  endorsed  on  the 
bills  of  lading  to  facilitate  the  settlement  of  accounts  with  the 
Commanders  of  the  Company's,  and  the  owners  of  chartered  ships. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1750-1751  127 

No  more  silver  is  to  be  kept  on  the  Coast  than  what  is  absolutely 
needed  ;  all  the  rest  is  to  be  coined  and  sent  to  Bengal ;  estimates 
of  the  Coast  requirements  are  to  be  made  from  time  to  time  and 
sent  home.  The  stowage,  etc.,  of  the  Madeira  is  to  be  carefully 
surveyed,  and  the  Commander  must  make  good  anything  beyond 
the  normal  leakage,  unless  he  can  give  good  reason  to  the  con- 
trary. He  and  his  ship's  company  are  allowed  20  pipes  on  their 
privilege.  Licensed  silver,  coral,  emeralds,  pearls,  bugles,  etc  , 
overcarried  beyond  the  port  of  their  consignment,  are  to  be  returned 
thither  without  extra  charge  at  owner's  risk.  Expect  to  send  60 
recruits  for  India  on  each  ship.  Richard  Grindall,  appointed  a 
Surgeon  at  Fort  St.  David,  has  changed  his  mind  and  will  not  sail. 
Peter  de  Wendler,  who  sails  in  this  season's  shipping,  is  to  succeed 
to  the  first  vacancy,  as  Surgeon  at  Fort  St.  David,  next  after  the 
appointments  already  made.  Send  a  list  of  the  investment. 
Appoint  as  writers  : — Charles  Simpson,  George  Stratton,  Richard 
Brickenden,  Philip  Francis  Greenslate,  George  Dawson,  Marma- 
duke  Best,  and  Matthew  Clarke.  Send  10  tons  of  Russian  iron 
as  an  experiment.  Ship  owners  have  complained  of  the  exorbitant 
prices  which  their  Commanders  have  had  to  pay  for  provisions, 
owing  to  the  monopolies  allowed  unjustly  by  Floyer,  etc.  (as  in 
the  case  of  Dencker  the  butcher);  Commanders  are  to  have  free 
liberty  to  buy  stores,  etc.,  from  any  person  they  please.  The 
Company's  ships  have  usually  been  supplied  with  stores,  etc.,  out 
of  the  Company's  stock  ;  in  future  advances  are  to  be  made  in 
cash,  out  of  which  supplies  of  all  kinds  from  the  Company's  ware- 
houses must  be  paid  for  so  that  the  exact  cost  of  each  voyage  may 
be  ascertained.  Licensed  silver,  etc.,  landed  at  Fort  St.  David 
may  be  sent  to  Madras  without  further  charge  or  duty  at  owner's 
risk.  Send  a  bale  containing  10  pieces  of  superfine  shalloon, 
54  inches  wide,  of  5  different  colours,  as  an  experiment. 

Despatch  from  the  Compamy  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India  House.    January  23,  175 1.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  54,  pp.  33-54  {Original  22  pp.)] 
Cite  despatch  of  November  28,  1750.  No  opportunity  must  be 
lost  of  in  sending  advices  home,  especially  as  affairs  are  in  such 
confusion.  The  4  ships  now  about  to  sail  will  only  call  at  Fort  St. 
David  to  get  their  bullion  coined  for  Bengal.  Bengal  to  be  informed 
as  early  as  possible  of  the  tonnage  that  can  be  provided  on  the 
Coast.     Boscawen's  expedition  having  necessitated  the  sending  of 


128  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

numerous  ships  as  transports,  so  that  ships  subsequently  sent  have 
had  to  be  detained,  require  as  many  ships  as  possible  to  be  returned. 
Cargoes  may  be  made  up  with  redwood  of  the  sort  sent  to  China, 
turmeric,  lac  and  other  '  gruff  goods.'  Measures  to  be  concerted 
with  Bengal  to  assist  Sumatra  to  send  home  the  Onslow  with  a  full 
cargo.  If  any  ships  must  be  detained,  they  should  be  let  out 
on  freight,  which  is  practicable  now  that  the  chief  traders  have 
returned  to  Madras.  Hear  that  a  Company  is  being  formed  at 
Emden,  under  Prussian  patronage,  to  trade  to  India  ;  no  encroach_ 
ment  on  English  privileges  is  to  be  suffered,  and  no  assistance  to  be 
afforded  by  those  living  under  English  protection.  For  some  years 
projects  have  been  on  foot  to  revenge  the  seizure  by  the  Moghals  of 
the  Ostend  ships  in  the  Hugli.  Hitherto  have  been  able  to  check 
these  plans ;  but  now  have  reason  to  believe  that  James  Mill,  a 
Colonel  in  the  Austrian  service,  and  Captain  John  Acton,  who 
commands  the  3  ships  that  were  stopped  4  years  ago,  are  about 
to  attempt  to  slip  away  to  India.  They  are  at  present  in  the 
Adriatic  with  considerable  forces  on  board.  The  Country  Govern- 
ment is  to  be  warned,  and  informed  that  though  the  expedition  is 
commanded  and  partly  navigated  by  Englishmen,  the  nation  in 
general  and  the  Company  in  particular  disclaim  and  condemn  their 
project.  All  means  are  to  be  used  to  distress  them  and  hinder 
their  design. 

Have  been  unable  to  recover  anything  from  the  Duke  of 
Cumberland  which  was  wrecked  near  Cape  Verde  in  January  1750. 
Commanders  have  been  remiss  in  registering  their  private  trade, 
especially  at  Fort  St.  David ;  they  must  be  made  to  do  so  on  oath. 
Are  much  concerned  at  the  heavy  losses  in  the  storm  of  April 
1749;  it  was  fortunate  the  ships  had  few  goods  on  board.  Dis- 
approve of  Floyer's  taking  it  upon  himself  to  order  a  sloop  for 
Sumatra  to  be  built  at  Bombay  ;  the  Council  should  have  been 
consulted.  Approve  the  sending  of  the  weakest  ships  home  in 
the  fairest  season.  Considering  '  the  distracted  condition  '  of  the 
crew  of  the  Fort  St.  George,  think  it  was  imprudent  to  send  her  to 
Madagascar  for  slaves.  Approve  the  purchase  of  the  guns  saved 
out  of  the  Winchelsea  and  Lincoln,  and  the  allowance  made  to  the 
officers  of  those  ships.  Cite  the  case  of  the  Exeter's  bill  of  lading 
endorsed  '  contents  received  '  although  her  cargoes  of  grain  from 
Bengal  were  deficient.  The  endorsement  prevented  any  recovery 
being  made  from  her  owners.  Time-expired  soldiers  must  not  be 
sent  home  as  charterparty  passengers,  which  costs  the  Company 
£10  a  head  ;  they  must  either  work  or  pay  for  their  passage. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1750-1751  129 

All  the  silver  sent  on  the  present  ships  is  to  be  forwarded  in 
rupees  to  Bengal.  In  the  case  of  the  Lapwing,  which  had  80  chests  of 
bullion,  only  80  chests  of  Arcot  rupees  were  sent  on;  so  that  in  effect 
upwards  of  10  chests  of  Arcot  rupees  were  improperly  detained,  in 
spite  of  the  most  explicit  orders.  Cannot  accept,  for  lack  of  proper 
estimates,  the  excuses  offered  per  Royal  George  for  not  having  sent 
more  silver  to  Bengal.  269  chests  were  detained  out  of  a  total  of 
629.  The  sale  of  all  the  broadcloth  to  Linga  Chetti  at  30%  was 
quite  contrary  to  last  year's  orders  which  are  to  be  obeyed.  The 
Russian  iron  is  to  be  sold  separately.  Stores  for  Sumatra.  Any 
surplus  stock  at  Ca;iton  this  year  is  to  be  invested  in  gold  and  sent 
to  Fort  St.  David. 

Renewed  complaints  of  carelessness  in  contracting  Avith  the 
merchants  for  the  investment.  Only  one  Consultation  was  held 
regarding  the  investment  of  1749,  and  then  prices  were  raised 
considerably  on  the  general  ground  that  the  merchants  could  not 
supply  at  cheaper  rates,  without  even  enquiring  whether  other 
merchants  would  offer  better  terms.  In  order  to  assist  the  provision 
of  more  tonnage,  cloth  of  inferior  quality  may  be  accepted  (at  pro- 
portionately lower  prices)  provided  it  is  of  the  usual' lengths  and 
breadths.  Orders  regarding  subordinate  factories  must  be  com- 
municated in  full,  not  by  abstracts  only.  As  the  persons  indebted 
to  the  Company  in  1746  have  returned  to  Madras,  attempts  must  be 
made  to  recover  their  debts.  Trust  that  the  balances  due  from  the 
merchants  who  provided  the  1748  investment  have  long  since  been 
recovered. 

Consider  the  capture  of  Devikottai  a  rash  and  unjust  enterprise, 
concerted  without  authority  and  contrary  to  the  Company's  interests. 
It  has  been  the  Company's  constant  policy  to  maintain  a  good 
understanding  with  the  Country  powers.  The  people  of  Tanjore 
had  always  been  friendly ;  and  the  claims  of  Shahji  were  no 
business  of  the  English.  Moreover,  even  if  they  were  just  claims, 
the  project  promised  no  advantage  to  the  Company's  commerce. 
Devikottai  is  likely  to  be  a  source  of  expense  rather  than  of  profit ; 
and  its  seizure  will  incite  the  Marathas  against  the  English.  In 
any  event,  it  was  the  highest  presumption  in  Floyer,  Prince  and 
Lawrence  to  advance  money  to  Shahji  and  plan  the  expedition, 
without  the  consent  of  the  other  councillors,  who  knew  nothing  of 
it  till  the  troops  were  10  miles  on  their  way.  Had  they  been  con- 
sulted, it  would  have  been  condemned  by  a  majority,  for  Croke  and 
Westcott  disapproved  it  altogether,  while  Holt  and  Wynch  only 
concurred   as   matters   had    gone   so   far.     Croke  reports  that  his 

17 


130  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

minute  against  the  expedition  was  not  allowed  to  be  read  or  entered 
on  the  Consultations — another  instance  of  the  extraordinary  conduct 
of  Floyer,  Prince  and  Lawrence.  However  as  affairs  stand, 
Devikottai  must  be  maintained  as  cheaply  as  prudence  will  allow, 
and  its  commerce  ('  which  is  our  true  interest ')  must  be  fostered. 
At  the  same  time  good  relations  must  be  re-established  with 
Tanjore. 

The  part  taken  by  the  Council  in  consequence  of  Nizam-ul- 
mulk's  death  appears  very  different,  for  they  avoided  interference 
beyond  what  circumstances  demanded.  Particularly  approve  the 
occupation  of  St.  Thome  and  the  assistance  afforded  to  Muhammad 
Ali  Khan,  who,  it  is  hoped,  will  show  himself  grateful  if  he  ever 
becomes  Nawab.  However  no  part  is  to  be  taken  in  Country 
Government  disputes  unless  the  Company's  interest  absolutely 
requires  it.  Approve  of  the  allowance  made  to  Haji  Hadi,  though 
it  is  large,  as  it  is  evidently  necessary  to  get  reports  from  such 
a  person  while  the  country  is  so  unsettled.  But  the  allowance 
should  only  continue  so  long  as  may  be  necessary.  Approve  the 
disallowance  of  the  Madras  Poligar's  claim  to  a  perpetual  right  to 
that  post ;  no  such  claims  can  be  tolerated. 

Cannot  give  directions  regarding  fortifications  till  Robins's 
report  has  been  received.  As  the  French,  contrary  to  the  Treaty, 
carried  away  all  the  cannon  from  Madras,  approve  the  obtaining 
cannon  and  ammunition  from  Boscawen.  It  was  proper  to  suspend 
the  duties  at  Madras  for  six  months  ;  but  it  is  said  that  considerable 
sums  were  extorted  by  some  of  the  Company's  servants  for  liberty 
to  return  there;  a  particular  enquiry  is  to  be  made,  and  any  such 
sums  are  to  be  refunded  to  the  persons  injured.  If  possible  enough 
revenue  must  be  raised  at  Devikottai  to  cover  the  expenses  of  that 
place.  Although  the  English  ambassador  at  Paris  has  demanded 
the  restitution  of  the  military  stores,  etc.,  carried  away  by  the 
French  from  Madras  contrary  to  the  9th  article  of  the  Treaty  of 
Aix-la-Chapelle,  the  French  are  evading  the  demand  with  their 
usual  chicanery.  As  the  French  at  Pondichery  have  done  all  in 
their  power  to  distress  the  English,  and  are  likely  to  continue  doing 
so,  the  Council  must  be  constantly  on  guard  against  them,  and 
furnish  such  exact  and  authentic  narratives  of  the  French  proceed- 
ings as  may  warrant  applications  for  redress  in  case  of  any 
violations  of  the  Treaty.  Will  decide  about  Wynch's  house  when 
Robins  has  reported  on  it.  Boscawen  has  permitted  the  Company 
to  take  copies  of  his  plan  relating  to  its  affairs.  In  a  letter  dated 
February  10,   1750,  Fathers  Severini  and   Bernard  complain  that 


CALENDAR  FOR  I750-J75I  131 

they  have  been  dispossessed  of  their  houses  and  churches,  which  are 
to  be  given  to  the  Danish  Lutheran  Missionaries,  and  that  they 
have  been  turned  out  of  the  White  Town.  Await  further  des- 
patches before  passing  orders  on  this,  as  also  regarding  the 
confiscation  of  the  houses  of  those  who  remained  at  Madras  under 
the  protection  of  the  French.  In  Europe  in  such  cases  it  is  usual 
to  allow  people  to  retain  their  property  unless  they  have  taken  an 
overt  part  against  their  first  masters. 

Appoint  as  writers : — James  Bourchier,  Peter  St.  Paul,  Henry 
Brooke,  John  Casey,  William  Lefevre,  John  Calland,  Thomas 
Mansell,  and  Henry  Eustace  Johnstone.  The  first  two  who  are  at 
Fort  St.  David  are  to  serve  as  writers  for  5  years  from  the  arrival 
of  this  despatch.  St.  Paul's  appointment  is  on  condition  that  he  is 
not  a  Roman  Catholic.  All  the  above  except  St.  Paul  (who  has 
already  been  vouched  for  by  the  Council)  have  produced  certificate 
that  they  are  full  16  years  old  and  have  undergone  a  regular 
course  of  arithmetic  and  book-keeping.  This  is  a  rule  which  will  be 
followed  in  future  appointments.  All  the  Company's  servants 
must  be  encouraged  to  learn  the  Country  languages  ;  advise  a  fre- 
quent shifting  of  posts  so  that  they  may  acquire  a  general  know- 
ledge of  the  Company's  business.  Have  permitted  to  reside  in 
India  as  free  merchants  : — William  Tidcombe,  Solomon  Nathan, 
Ralph  Wardlaw,  Nathaniel  Wilson,  and  Francis  Fowke  (late  a 
factor  at  Bombay).  Permit  Ralph  Taylor  to  go  to  India,  and  Peter 
Gallopine  to  remain  there,  as  mariners.  Covenanted  servants  who 
have  not  yet  given  proper  security,  must  write  immediately  to  their 
friends  to  do  so.  Have  granted  Holt  a  pension  of  £30  a  year  for 
so  long  as  he  is  unable  to  transact  any  business.  A  list  of  all  un- 
licensed persons  under  the  Presidency  of  Fort  St.  David  is  to  be 
sent  home,  showing  the  time  of  their  arrival  and  the  ship  they  went 
out  on.  Approve  of  Fordyce's  suspension.  Confirm  the  appoint- 
ment of  Robert  Palk  as  Chaplain  ;  but  Swinfen,  who  was  appointed 
by  the  Company,  is  to  have  precedence  over  him. 

Regarding  the  money  transactions  at  Madras  in  1746,  Morse 
was  no  doubt  best  able  to  give  information  ;  but  other  persons 
should  have  been  examined  too,  especially  when  Morse  showed 
himself  indisposed  to  reveal  anything.  The  Council's  enquiries 
were  languid  and  indifferent.  As  Morse  has  not  yet  arrived,  the 
Company  knows  no  more  about  the  Madras  affair  than  when  it  first 
ordered  the  enquiry  to  be  made.  Morse's  conduct  renders  it  doubt- 
ful whether  he  will  give  the  Company  the  information  needed  ;  and 
the  enquiry  is  to  be  proceeded  with  according  to  former  orders. 


132  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

When  Robins  has  reported  upon  Madras  and  Fort  St.  David, 
will  then  decide  which  shall  be  the  seat  of  the  Presidency.  Mean- 
while the  merchants,  etc.,  of  Madras  are  to  be  encouraged,  as  it  very 
probably  will  be  restored  to  its  former  position.  Complain  that 
Consultations  have  been  sent  home  unindexed.  The  date  of  each 
Consultation  should  always  be  recited  in  the  next.  Exact  lists  of 
all  residents  at  the  subordinate  factories  should  be  sent  home 
annually.  Discrepancy  between  a  diamond  register  and  the  bill  of 
lading.  One  Kuddam  Narayanan  of  Fort  St.  David  complains 
that  Mutyalu  has  been  keeping  him  wrongfully  out  of  a  piece  of 
garden-ground  in  spite  of  frequent  applications  to  the  Council  ;  an 
enquiry  to  be  made  and  Mutyalu  obliged  to  make  full  satisfaction 
if  necessary. 

The  Naval  Commissioners  for  the  sick  and  wounded  have 
refused  *  to  pass  £756  in  Belsches'  accounts  between  August  I,  1748, 
and  September  30, 1749-  This  amount  is  to  be  deposited  by  Belsches 
in  the  Company's  Cash  until  he  shall  have  furnished  such  vouchers 
as  may  enable  the  Company  to  recover  the  stoppages. 

The  extra  allowance  of  20  Pags.  a  month  to  Pybus  as  Military 
Storekeeper  makes  it  appear  that  '  you  .  .  .  look  upon  yourselves 
rather  as  a  military  colony  than  the  factors  and  agents  of  a  body 
of  merchants'.  Covenanted  servants  are  bound  to  fulfil  the  duties 
of  their  employments  with  the  usual  allowances.  No  extraordinary 
allowances  to  be  made  in  future  without  the  Company's  sanction. 
The  Military  Storekeeper  may  receive  a  monthly  allowance  of  10 
Pags.  for  the  extra  trouble  of  the  post.  The  2  clerks  on  10  Pags. 
a  month  each  are  to  be  replaced  by  2  of  the  Company's  writers 
without  extra  allowances.  Mrs.  Antonia  de  Madeiros  and  Shawmier 
Sultan  may  be  assured  that,  as  soon  as  the  Company  is  satisfied  of 
the  justice  of  their  claims  for  money  lent  on  bond  to  Morse,  etc.,  at 
Madras,  they  shall  be  paid.  On  February  10,  1747,  James  Munro 
was  permitted  to  go  to  India  to  be  employed  as  Surgeon  at  one  of 
the  Presidencies ;  but  this  was  not  inserted  in  the  Company's  des- 
patches. Now  direct  that  he  shall  succeed  according  to  the  date 
of  his  appointment. 

Are  much  disappointed  that  only  500  of  the  King's  troops  joined 
the  Company's  service,  and  that  by  means  which  involved  estab- 
lishing 4  companies  in  excess  of  the  Regulations.  Believe  this 
was  inevitable  in  the  circumstances;  but  the   II  companies  are 

*  The  remarks  of  the  Commissioners  form  pp.  139 — 142  of  Vol.  54  of  Public  Des- 
patches from  England. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1750-1751  133 

to  be  reduced  to  7  as  occasion  offers.  Send  275  good  recruits. 
To  encourage  the  re-enlistment  of  time-expired  soldiers,  a  bounty 
of  £10  may  be  offered  for  five  years'  additional  service.  None  of 
the  recruits  for  Bengal  are  to  be  detained  ;  indeed  '  we  hope  you 
will  be  able  to  spare  some  of  yours.'  A  certain  number  of  topasses 
may  be  retained  if  really  necessary,  but  they  should  not  be  paid 
full  European  rates.  Repeat  positively  the  orders  for  breaking  the 
Troop  of  horse,  '  as  we  are  determined  to  have  our  commands 
obeyed.'  Approve  the  commission  given  to  Dumarchais  in  the 
Train.  It  is  reported  that  there  have  been  abuses  in  paying  the 
Military  and  others,  whereby  discontent  has  arisen ;  order  an 
enquiry ;  any  guilty  persons  must  refund  their  wrongful  gains  and 
be  suspended.  Among  others  compelled  to  pay  for  re-admission  to 
Madras,  Bukanji  Kasidas  is  said  to  have  paid  3,000  Pags. 
Positively  order  a  strict  enquiry.  Robert  Trotter,  James  Taylor, 
and  Augustus  Burton  allowed  to  reside  in  India  as  free  merchants. 
Direct  the  payment  of  all  arrears  of  interest  at  6%  due  on  the 
sum  of  6,000  Pags.  paid  into  the  Company's  Cash  by  Father 
Severini  on  account  of  a  hospital  for  female  orphans. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Benjamin  Robins.  East 
India  House.  January  23,  175 1.  [Public  Despatches  from 
England,  Vol.  54,  pp.  57-58  {Original  2  pp.)] 

Received  Robins'  plans  of  the  wrecked  Duke  of  Cumberland,  with 
his  report  on  her,  dated  March  5,  1750.  Failure  of  the  salvage 
operations.  Await  his  reports,  not  only  on  the  fortifications  and 
Artillery  corps,  but  also  on  the  general  defence  and  military  estab- 
lishments in  India.  Desire  him  to  advise  the  Company's  agents 
in  India  how  to  make  gunpowder  better  and  cheaper  than  at 
present. 

DESPATCH   FROM   THE   COMPANY  TO    THOMAS    SAUNDERS,  ETC. 

East  India  House.    February  6,  1751.    [Public  Despatches 
from  England,  Vol.  54,  p.  61  {Copy  I  p.)] 

Have  enquired  into  the  conduct  of  Captain  Mason  of  the 
Dodington  and  Captain  Lindsay  of  the  Pelham  at  Quedda.  Finding 
that  they  committed  hostile  acts  without  sufficient  reason,  have 
inflicted  exemplary  punishment  upon  them.  As  Mason's  mis- 
conduct was  principally  caused  by  the  indecent  and  disorderly 
behaviour  of  Simon  Loake,  supercargo  of  the  Mary  schooner  of 
Calcutta,  have  ordered  the   latter  to  be   sent  to   England.     This 


134  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

action  is  to  be  communicated  to  the  King  of  Quedda  with  a  view  to 
re-establishing  good  relations. 

DESPATCH    FROM   THE  COMPANY    TO  THOMAS    SAUNDERS,   ETC. 

EAST  INDIA  HOUSE.    MARCH  13,  1751.     [Public  Despatches  from 

England,  Vol.  54,  PP-  63-64  (Copy  lV2  pp.)] 
Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  despatch  dated  September  26, 1750, 
and  a  letter  from  Robins  of  September  25.  Robins'  report  has 
strengthened  the  Company's  opinion  that  Madras  is  the  best  seat 
for  the  Presidency.  Shall  finally  decide  on  receipt  of  the  earlier 
despatches  not  yet  come  to  hand.  Meanwhile  the  trade  of  Madras 
is  to  be  encouraged  and  Robins  may  throw  up  such  works  as 
are  needed  for  immediate  defence.  Approve  Robins'  engaging 
Achilles  Preston,  '  a  youth  who  was  on  board  the  Grantham,'  vice 
Carrington  deceased.     Also  approve  the  engagement  of  Brohier. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Benjamin  Robins.  East 
INDIA  HOUSE.  MARCH  13,  175 1.  [Public  Despatches  from 
England,  Vol.  54,  p.  67  {Original  I  p.)] 

As  in  the  preceding  despatch  regarding  Madras,  Achilles 
Preston,  and  Brohier.  Approve  the  alterations  in  the  defences  of 
Fort  St.  David,  especially  as  the  cost  seems  very  moderate. 


THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES,  1 751-1752. 


abstract  of  despatch  from  thomas  saunders,  etc.,  to 
the    Company.      Fort    St.    David.    August    6,    1751. 

RECEIVED    FEBRUARY     16,    1752.      [Coast    and   Bay  abstracts. 

Letters  Received,  Vol.  5,  pp.  283  —  288.  {India  Office  transcript.)] 
Cite  despatch  of  February  24.  Acknowledge  the  receipt  on 
May  9  of  despatch,  dated  November  28,  1750.  Movements  of  the 
Bay  and  China  shipping.  The  Kent,  London,  Shaftesbury  and 
Sivallow  are  the  only  ships  of  last  year  still  in  India.  The 
Warwick  was  freighted  for  private  voyage  to  China  ;  the  Hardwicke 
ditto  between  Coast  and  Bay;  and  the  Scarborough,  if  Bengal 
agrees  to  it,  to  Mocha.  Desire  that  Council  may  have  its 
choosing  of  vessels  to  be  employed  in  country  trade.  Commanders 
are  given  a  free  hand  in  the  purchase  of  provisions.  Foreign 
ships  will  be  obstructed  in  their  pernicious  schemes. 

'  Cargoes  of  the  ships  landed  at  Fort  St.  George  on  account  of 
dispatch  and  warehouse  room.'  '  Russia  iron  sold  well  and  shal- 
loons except  blue  sort  which  went  under  prime  cost.  A  small 
quantity  of  the  latter  will  be  sufficient,  the  country  not  being 
inclined  to  it.  Iron  being  in  demand,  have  indented  largely.' 
Will  not  detain  Bengal  treasure  unless  absolutely  necessary. 
'What  sent  last  year  insufficient  for  them  and  apprehend  the 
Company  will  suffer  from  its  being  so  this.  The  beginning  of  the 
year  could  not  advance  the  merchants,  and  should  goods  offer 
they  will  be  streightened  for  cash.'  As  silver  is  at  a  low  price, 
can  only  buy  gold  at  the  current  rate.  '  Coffrees  make  good 
soldiers.  They  are  dreaded  by  the  Moors.  Desire  an  outward 
bound  ship  may  be  orderd  to  bring  some  men-slaves.'  '  Goods 
for  the  China  market  bought  up  by  Macao  ships  in  February  ;  so 
not  procurable.  Silver  from  its  cheapness  will  answer  as  well.' 
Cloth  will  be  put  up  for  sale  as  directed,  notwithstanding  mer- 
chants '  protest. 

'On  making  a  new  contract,  urged  the  merchants  to  an  abate- 
ment in  price  and  better  sortment  from  last  year's  advance;  the 
badness  of  and  difficiency  in  quantity  of  the  goods,  with  the  small 
investment  of  the  French  and  cheapness  of  cotton  which  brought 


136  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

them  to  a  deduction  of  one  pagoda  per  corge  in  the  ordinary  long- 
cloth  and  half  pagoda  in  the  sallampores,  then  cotton  at  30  and 
French  took  little  cloth  ;  they  have  since  contracted,  cotton  being 
at  42  Pags.,  and  have  allowed  the  merchants  2  Pags.  a  corge 
more  which  will  greatly  affect  them.'  'Were  the  present  sub- 
stantial merchants  to  be  laid  aside,  it  would  be  their  ruin  and  their 
ballances  difficult  to  be  recovered,  but  if  any  one  of  known 
substance  offers  he  shall  be  accepted.'  '  In  May  last  agreed  to 
take  in  the  best  of  a  considerable  parcel  of  cloth  turnd  out,  though 
somewhat  wanting  in  length  and  breadth.  The  Company  have 
since  granted  this  liberty  which  may  in  time  prejudice  the  manu- 
facture. The  French  and  Danes  snatch  it  up.  It  is  for  the 
Company's  advantage  to  take  it  with  an  allowance  for  defects  .' 
'Want  of  gold  checks  investment.  Merchants  are  advanced  in 
rupees  to  the  Company's  loss.  With  the  greatest  difficulty  have 
procured  Madras  Pagodas  for  Northern  settlements.'  '  Vizagapatam 
promises  a  good  quantity  of  cloth  and  business  goes  on  well  at 
Ingeram  .'  '  Mr.  Andrews  is  ordered  to  quit  Ganjam  on  the  Govern- 
ment's badness  (French  investing  at  Narsapur).  He  is  orderd  to 
Maddapollam  and  remitted  10,000  Pags.,  but  not  to  go  to  the 
expence  of  a  factory  till  certain  of  succeeding.' 

'  Since  their  last  have  compleated  the  mines  and  gallerys, 
cleand  the  ditch  and  erected  a  saluting  battery ;  not  having 
workmen  or  materials,  the  hospital  and  officers'  lodgings  are  post- 
poned.' '  Mr.  Wynch's  house — for  the  distance  is  judgd  not  to 
be  the  least  inconvenient.'  '  Mr.  Robins  who  has  been  in  a 
desperate  way  is  now,  it  is  hoped  by  the  doctor,  recovering.  They 
believe  he  has  projected  the  works  for  Bengal.  When  recovered 
he  will  go  to  Madrass  and  thence  to  Bengal.'  'Cuddam  Narrain's 
affair  of  the  garden  alledged  to  be  bought  by  him  was  paid  for 
by  the  other  who  has  a  bill  of  sale  of  it.  This  matter  adjusted  by 
the  Deputy  Governors  Hubbard  and  Monson  long  ago.'  '  Bocunjee 
has  been  wrote  to  at  Golcondah  about  the  money  said  to  be 
extorted  from  him.  Shall  enquire  into  and  redress  any  injustice 
that  has  been  done  the  natives.' 

'Messieurs  Simpson,  Greenslate,  Stratton,  Dawson,  Best,  Clarke, 
and  Calland  arrivd;  and  James  Bourchier  and  St.  Paul  (a  Protest- 
ant) entertaind  writers.  Monthly  writers  shall  be  discharged. 
Ralph  Taylor  permitted  to  stay  in  the  sea-faring  way  arrived.' 
'  Mr.  Pybus  (Military  Storekeeper).  His  allowance  reduced  to 
10  Pags.  a  month.'  '  Thankful  for  the  supply  of  military.  Those 
designd  for  Bengal  will  be  detained  till  the   troubles  are  over. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1751-1752  137 

They  are  paid  to  according  to  Regulations  and  no  frauds  used. 
The  Troop  shall  be  disbanded,  and  no  new  companys  formed.     A 
bounty  of  Rs.  40  will  be  sufficient  to  induce  them  to  relist.'     'Mr. 
James   Munro   Surgeon    is  by  choice  at  Vizagapatam.      Andrew 
Munro  and  Robert   Turing   their  head   surgeons   agreeable.     Mr. 
Wilson  at  Fort  St.  David  and  Mr.  Hancock  at  Devecottah.     Hope 
he  will  be  approved,  he  being  experienced  and  they  wanting  such 
a  one.'     '  Persons   residing   without   license   under  them  shall  be 
advised  of. '     '  Mr.  Foss  Westcott  appointed  Resident  at  Ingeram.' 
1  Mr.  Robert  Goodere  being  ill,  permitted  to  go  to  Bengal  to  return 
in   January;  the  charge  of  Vizagapatam  thereupon  committed  to 
Messrs.  Churchey  and  Banks.'     '  Mr.  Hugh  Norris  for  the  recovery 
of  his  health  by  the  sea  air  had  leave  go  to  China  on  the  Warwick 
and  return  in  December.'     '  Mr.  Charles  Turner  on  the  like  occasion 
at  Madrass.'     '  Mr.   John  Barker  dyed  at   Madrass    24th   ultimo.' 
1  Mr.  William  Reade  disorderd  in  his  senses  returns  on  this  ship.' 
1  Mr.  Richard   Fairfield,  Sub-Accountant,    appointed  to  close  the 
Madrass  books  ending  April  1746  (Mr.  Hopkins  being  sent  to  the 
Northward).     He  is  allowd   £100  a  year  for  that  trusty  and  labo- 
rious employ  till  the  Company's  pleasure  is  known.'  '  Mr.   Henry 
Vansittart  granted    £30  per  annum  as  Translator.     He   has   taken 
great  pains  in  translating  the  pieces  received  from  Pondicherry.' 
'Found  their  mistake  as  to  diamonds  registerd  that  they  should 
be  to  Joseph  Solomons.'     '  Have  paid  the  interest  due  to   Padre 
Severini.     On  Mrs.  Medeiros'  application  she  was  told,  as  well  as 
others,  they  must  wait  till  the  affair  was  settled  at  home.'     '  Mr. 
Pigot  appointed  Commissary  for  Accounts  of  Country  Government 
and  detachments  abroad.'    '  Madras  General  books  for  1745  will 
be  sent  in  September  but  imperfect,  the  import  and  export  ware- 
house books  being  missing.     Several  of  the  accounts  from  April 
1746  to  September  cannot  be  found.'     '  Send  the  Committee's  report 
on  the  late  Council's   accounts.     Can't  at   this  distance  of  time 
prove  any  frauds,  but  the  expences  ran  exhorbitantly  high,  and 
the  articles  charged  excessively  dear.' 
Sumatra  affairs. 

'  The  want  of  the  regular  forms  of  justice  is  of  great  incon- 
venience.' 

'  Captain  Speke  of  the  Swallow  drew  on  them  loth  October  last 
from  Batavia  for  749  Pags.'  '  Vigilant  and  Ruby  sailed  from 
Tellicherry  for  Madagascar,  29th  April.'  '  Hear  the  Tartar  has  lost 
her  passage  to  Persia.'  '  Mr.  Belsches'  bond  to  be  responsible  as 
to  accounts  sick  and  hurt  formerly  sent.' 
18 


138  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Supplement :   Acknowledge    the    receipt    of    despatch,   dated 
February  6,  per  Duke  of  Dorset.     '  The  Duke  of  Parma,  Le  Rochelle 
and  Le  Saint  Priest,  French   ships,  arrived  at  Pondicherry  and 
Tevenapatam  from  the  Islands.     They  landed  160  chests  treasure, 
240  men  and  450  bales  broadcloth.     They  have  sent  a  ship  to  the 
Islands   with   450   bales   piece-goods.'     'Two   ships  arrived  from 
Tranquebar  are  to  be  sent  home  in  September.'     'A  Dutch  ship  at 
Negapatam  from  Batavia  says  a  large  reinforcement  is  on  board 
this  year's  shipping.'     '  A  Portuguese  ship  with  40  military  arrived 
in  her  way  to  Bengal  where  it  is  said  they  will  re-establish  their 
settlement.'     '  The  King  of  Quedah  shall  be  acquainted  with  the 
resentment  shown  the  Captains  who  behaved  ill  there.     Simon 
Loake  ran  away  from  his  vessel  having  shot  Mr.  Noke,  the  other 
supracargo.     If  he  comes  to  the  Coast  he  shall  be  sent  home  per 
orders.'      '  All    their    advices    have    shown   business   cannot  be 
regularly   carried  on  till   Madras   is    appointed  the   Presidency.' 
'Captain  Lieutenant  Hocket,  a  turbulent  and  disobedient  officer 
of  the  Train  broke  at  the  instance  of  Mr.  Robins,  takes  passage  on 
the  Swallow.'    '  John  Francis  Vareilles,  able  in  his  profession  and 
recommended  by  Mr.  Robins  has  a  Captain's  brevet  granted  him.' 
'Mr.   Robert  Clive  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain  by   brevet 
without  pay,  in  reward  of  his  particular  services.     He  was  senior 
Lieutenant  on  his  re-entering  the  civil  list.'     The  invoice  of  this 
ship  amounts  to  62,773   Pags. ;    diamonds,  etc.,  registered,  49,246 
Pags. ;  and  Captains'  private  trade,  8,064  Rs.     The  cash  balance  is 
8,816  Pags. 

'  Postscript,  dated  15th  August,  1751.  The  Swallow  detained  by 
being  run  aboard  of  by  a  Dutch  ship  going  out  of  the  road  in  the 
night.  Obliged  the  Dutchman  to  make  good  the  damage.'  Bills 
on  the  Company  for  1,132  Pags. 


SEPARATE  DESPATCH   FROM  THOMAS  SAUNDERS,  ETC.,  TO  THE 

Company.     Fort  St.  David.     August  15,  1751-     [Public 

Despatches  to  England,  Vol.  19,  pp.  8-21  {Copy  14  pp.).  Damaged. 
Also  Factory  Records,  Fort  St.  David,  Vol.  II,  pp.  347~364-  (India 
Office  transcript.)] 

Soon  after  the  elevation  of  Nizam  Ali  as  Subahdar  of  the 
Deccan,  he  gave  up  the  command  of  the  army  to  his  elder  brother 
Sayyid  Muhammad  Khan  alias  Salabat  Khan.  They  then  marched 
with  the  French  (of  whom  only  60  had  been  killed)  to  Golconda, 


CALENDAR  FOR  1751-1752  139 

whence  the  French  refused  to  move  till  they  had  been  paid  four 
lakhs  of  rupees.  This  was  done  ;  warlike  stores  were  procured  from 
Masulipatam;  and  they  then  marched  to  Aurangabad,  where  they 
still  are,  having  met  with  no  opposition.  Nasir  Jang's  wife  and 
mother  sought  to  move  the  Marathas  to  establish  his  son  in  the 
Government;  but  these  made  friends  with  Salabat  Jang,  and 
hearing  that  the  Guzaratties  under  Damaji  had  invaded  their 
country,  cut  off  the  Government  of  Aurangabad,  extorted  15  lakhs 
of  rupees,  and  went  home.  The  Moghal  on  hearing  of  Nasir 
Jang's  murder  is  said  to  have  appointed  Ghazi-ud-din  Subahdar 
of  the  Deccan  ;  the  latter  marched  some  stages  south,  but  then 
named  Salabat  Jang  as  his  Deputy.  It  is  believed  that  there  is 
great  discontent  among  the  nobles  in  the  Deccan  ;  the  country  is 
in  confusion  ;  and  no  troops  have  been  sent  this  way. 

Have  received  from  Muhammad  Ali  a  copy  of  the  farman  from 
the  Moghal  appointing  him  Nawab  of  Arcot,  and  of  a  letter  from 
Ghazi-ud-din.  The  French  gave  out  the  same  about  Chunda 
Sahib.  The  latter  remained  in  Pondichery  till  the  middle  of 
March,  when  he  set  out,  took  Chetpattu  by  treachery  and  Ami; 
on  which  Murtaza  Ali  Khan  submitted  to  him.  He  then  moved  to 
Arcot  and  thence  towards  Trichinopoly.  On  Chunda  Sahib's 
leaving  Pondichery,  400  men  under  Captain  de  Gingens  marched 
out  and  camped  at  Tiruvendipuram  and  then  at  Tiruviti. 
Muhammad  Ali  was  urged  to  join  the  English  in  the  field ;  he 
agreed  to  pay  all  the  field-charges  of  the  troops.  The  English 
took  Vriddhachalam  which  was  garrisoned  with  a  sergeant  and  30 
men,  and  then  joined  Muhammad  Ali  at  Valikondapuram.  In  spite 
of  the  recruits  received  from  England,  the  English  had  not  as 
many  Europeans  in  the  field  as  the  French  had  ;  but  the  prospect 
seemed  fair,  and  de  Gingens  was  urged  to  come  to  an  engagement. 
The  Killedar  of  Valikondapuram  declared  himself  a  friend  of 
Muhammad  Ali ;  but  he  refused  to  admit  troops  into  his  garrison  ; 
and  intercepted  letters  proved  him  to  be  an  enemy.  Accordingly 
the  pettah  was  burnt  and  the  Killedar  summoned  to  surrender  ;  but 
the  French  contrived  to  throw  a  relief  of  Europeans  and  cannon 
into  the  place  about  10  o'clock  next  morning.  A  short  action 
ensued,  in  which  the  Nawab's  people  and  the  coffrees  behaved  well 
and  our  people  ill.  We  lost  Ensign  Harper  and  only  7  or  8  men  ; 
the  enemy's  loss  is  said  to  be  heavier.  But  the  unlucky  action 
encouraged  their  people  and  depressed  ours  ;  and  that  night  de 
Gingens  thought  fit  to  retire  to  Uttatur,  20  miles  nearer  Trichinopoly, 
abandoning  some  shells  and  baggage.    The  enemy  followed  and 


140  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

camped  about  5  miles  off.  In  a  reconnaissance  Lieutenant 
Maskelyne,  some  sepoys  and  2  or  3  troopers  were  taken  prisoners. 
Maskelyne  has  since  been  released  on  his  parole.  A  few  days  later 
our  advanced  guard  under  Captain  Dalton  was  attacked  but  drove 
back  the  enemy  with  considerable  loss.  'Still  conquering,  still 
retreating,  our  Army  decamped  from  Uttatur  that  night,  abandon- 
ing part  of  its  baggage,  and  crossed  the  Coleroon  by  boat  (it  not 
being  fordable  at  that  time),  and  then  crossed  the  Cauvery. 
De  Gingens  reports  that  he  withdrew  for  fear  of  the  enemy's  cutting 
his  communication  with  Trichinopoly.  At  present  they  have 
about  2,000  sepoys  in  Srirangam,  3  or  4  miles  from  our  camp,  but 
their  main  body  is  on  the  banks  of  Coleroon,  having  been  as  yet 
unable  to  cross. 

These  successive  retreats  have  alarmed  Muhammad  Ali,discour- 
aged  his  friends,  and  hindered  many  from  declaring  for  him. 
Have  a  mortgage  bond  for  Trichinopoly,  dated  July  15,  1750,  and 
have  hoisted  our  flags  there ;  so  shall  protest  against  Dupleix 
for  any  hostilities  that  may  be  committed  there.  The  Fort  is 
known  to  be  strong ;  we  have  over  900  regular  troops  in  the  field, 
and  the  French  but  600,  including  200  seamen  ;  so  it  has  been 
resolved  to  leave  3  or  400  to  defend  the  Fort,  and  according  to 
the  Nawab's  desire  make  a  diversion  in  the  Arcot  country  with 
the  rest,  joined  with  the  Nawab's  forces,  with  a  view  to  raising 
contributions. 

At  the  beginning  of  February,  Charles  Hopkins  was  appointed 
to  proceed  to  Divi  Island,  support  our  claim  to  it,  and  demand  our 
factory  at  Masulipatam.  He  arrived  on  February  20,  but  La  Selle 
and  a  few  French  seized  him,  obliged  him  to  strike  his  colours, 
and  carried  him  under  guard  to  Masulipatam,  where  Friell  (the 
Chief)  refused  leave  for  him  to  proceed  to  Madapollam.  In  answer 
to  a  previous  protest  Dupleix  announced  his  willingness  to 
surrender  the  English  factory  at  Masulipatam  pending  the  receipt 
of  orders  from  Europe  ;  but  has  made  no  reply  to  the  main  points 
of  a  serious  remonstrance  regarding  the  treatment  of  Hopkins.  In 
the  Narsapur  river  they  are  demanding  3%  customs  from 
Europeans,  and  5%  from  all  others,  importing  goods ;  but  by 
the  Moghal's  farman  the  English  are  allowed  to  trade  free 
of  customs  in  all  settlements.  The  French  have  pulled  down 
English  flags  in  the  Kumbakonam  district  of  Tanjore,  claiming 
country  which  the  King  declares  he  never  made  over  to  them.  As 
Dupleix  disregards  '  the  laws  that  are  held  sacred  by  all  nations, ' 
do  not  suppose  he  will  recognize  the  English  claim  to  Trichinopoly. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1751-1752  141 

The  Dutch  still  do  nothing,  though  threatened  with  the  destruction 
of  their  trade. 

The  French  scheme  evidently  is  to  occupy  all  convenient  settle- 
ments and  territories  and  ruin  our  trade ;  even  should  Chunda 
Sahib  be  defeated  and  all  his  family  be  cut  off,  they  would  at  once 
set  up  some  one  else.  Their  frequent  successes  have  given  them 
reputation  in  India  and  will  probably  secure  support  from  Europe. 
'The  weakness  of  the  Moors  is  now  known,  and  'tis  certain  any 
European  nation  resolved  to  war  on  them  with  a  tolerable  force 
may  overrun  the  whole  country.'  The  French  now  have  2,000  men 
and  the  Company  must  resolve  to  maintain  a  force  equal  to  theirs 
or  to  settle  affairs  in  Europe.  The  French  occupation  of  territory 
surrounding  ours  shows  an  intention  to  annoy  us,  and  their  claim 
to  levy  duties  where  we  have  factories  and  a  free  trade  is  '  illegal.' 
Hitherto  have  kept  only  a  'command' at  Devikottai ;  but  as 
the  Company  approves  its  retention,  shall  now  send  a  covenanted 
servant  there,  and  endeavour  to  procure  cloth  from  Shiyali,  not  far 
off,  where  good  cloth  is  made.  Have  considered  it  advisable  to 
continue  the  allowance  of  Rs.  300  a  month  granted  to  the  pretended 
King  of  Tanjore,  until  his  affairs  can  be  settled  so  as  not  to  reflect 
upon  the  English.  Haji  Hadi  has  deceived  us  in  spite  of  his 
handsome  allowance ;  as  he  knows  all  the  English  affairs,  it  will 
not  be  safe  to  dismiss  him  at  present,  but  will  do  so  as  soon  as 
possible. 

St.  Thome  is  important.  Its  possession  by  another  power  would 
injure  the  English  land  customs  and  trade  and  afford  a  refuge  for 
deserters.  It  has  for  many  years  been  under  Muhammadan  Gov- 
ernment ;  and  the  Portuguese  have  flown  no  flag  there  save  what 
the  ecclesiastics  have  used  on  feast-days.  As  soon  as  this  claim 
was  heard  of,  an  officer  with  60  men  was  sent  there,  and  '  additions 
made  to  a  large  building,'  to  prevent  the  place  being  surprised. 
Have  since  received  a  letter  and  protest  from  Baron  de  Vellaroys, 
sent  by  the  Viceroy  of  Goa  as  Governor  of  St.  Thome,  and  who  is 
at  Pondichery  concerting  measures  with  Dupleix.  The  Country 
powers  are  more  likely  than  the  Portuguese  to  attack  St.  Thome. 

Await  orders  regarding  the  treatment  of  Roman  Catholic  priests, 
etc.  They  assist  French  trade  in  peace  and  furnish  information  in 
war.  Advise  that  their  houses  be  sold  and  the  produce  given  to 
them.  The  Portuguese  Church  [in  the  Fort  at  Madras]  is  a  nuisance 
and  should  not  be  restored  to  them,  as  there  are  plenty  of  churches 
outside  which  they  can  use.  No  Frenchman,  Portuguese,  priest  or 
Armenian  should  be  allowed  to  live  in  the  Fort. 


I42  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Robins  died  July  29.  His  judgment,  assiduity  and  honesty 
render  the  public  loss  great  and  his  agreeable  conduct  causes  him 
to  be  generally  lamented.  Brohier  succeeds  him  in  charge  of 
the  works,  as  he  had  managed  them  under  Robins.  Recommend 
him  as  capable  and  honest ;  he  is  a  Lieutenant  of  Artillery 
and  desires  preferment  that  way.  Robins  often  spoke  of 
John  Call  as  the  most  promising  and  talented  of  his  Assistants  ; 
a  map  of  Fort  St.  David  drawn  by  him  is  sent  herewith.  For 
economy's  sake  shall  take  off  the  Engineering  Assistants'  general 
table  and  make  each  a  diet  allowance.  Hope  the  Engineer  that 
will  be  sent  out  to  succeed  Robins  may  be  as  capable  and 
agreeable. 

Have  to  report  the  mutinous  behaviour  of  the  officers.  When 
English  troops  first  went  out  in  the  service  of  the  Country  powers, 
they  had  '  a  large  gratification  ' ;  but  after  the  grant  of  Poonamal- 
lee  and  St.  Thome,  the  matter  was  regulated  by  Lawrence  on  the 
basis  of  giving  double-pay  to  cover  extraordinary  expenses  when 
in  the  field.  The  troops  at  Tiruviti,  Trichinopoly  and  Tanjore 
were  on  this  footing  ;  and  '  the  last  command  '  had  been  in  camp 
two  months  before  Saunders  received  any  remonstrance.  The 
officers  seemed  satisfied  for  a  time  with  his  answer ;  but  afterwards 
it  was  repeated  '  in  positive  and  mutinous  terms.'  The  Nawab  was 
always  averse  to  paying  this  batta  and  is  now  distressed  for 
money  ;  yet  he  has  been  very  generous,  and  in  fact  every  officer 
has  gained  handsomely  since  going  into  the  field.  Was  unable  to 
try  any  of  the  officers  because  the  paper  was  signed  by  all  the 
Captains,  and  two  must  sit  to  form  a  court-martial.  '  Among  the 
many  bad  customs  introduced  by  the  King's  troops,'  is  that  of 
refusing  to  roll  with  officers  who  refuse  to  take  part  in  any  plan  ; 
and  many  were  coerced  into  signing  the  paper.  Intend  to  send  2  or 
3  of  the  ringleaders  home  in  September.  Hope  to  be  supported  in 
this  step  as  it  proceeds  from  no  personal  feeling.  There  is  news 
from  Tellicherry  that  the  French  are  behaving  in  the  same  way  on 
the  Malabar  as  on  the  Coromandel  Coast ;  they  have  taken  the  part 
of  the  nephew  of  the  King  of  Colastry  and  are  building  fortifica- 
tions. Are  in  need  of  Artillery  men  and  a  Commanding  officer  of 
experience,  provided  he  is  not  of  a  turbulent  disposition. 

Postscript :  Have  just  received  a  protest  from  the  French 
about  a  letter  which  they  allege  to  have  been  written  by  Goodere, 
but  which  Council  declared  to  be  spurious.  Are  sure  the  French 
will  be  confined  by  no  law  but  their  convenience;  shall  obstruct 
them  as  much  as  possible. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1751-1752  T43 

despatch  from  thomas  saunders,  etc.,  to  the  company. 
Fort  St.  David.  September  30,  1751.  Received  May  10, 
1752.  [Factory  Records,  Fort  St.  David,  Vol.  II,  pp.  371 — 378. 
(India  Office  transcript.)] 
Wrote  last  by  the  Swallow.  This  goes  by  the  Dragon.  Ship- 
ping news.  The  Hawke  which  was  sent  from  Bengal  to  fetch 
Robins  reached  Madras,  the  I2th.  Complain  that  the  Bengal  Council 
will  not  agree  in  any  measure  taken  by  Madras  to  let  to  freight  any 
Coast  and  Bay  shipping.  They  have  upset  the  contract  to  let  the 
Hardwicke  for  40,000  Rs.  and  might  have  let  the  Scarborough  for  the 
same  sum.  The  Company  ordered  to  be  forwarded  to  Bengal  what 
could  be  spared  out  of  the  treasure  from  the  Warwick,  but  a  lack 
of  funds  is  anticipated  before  the  end  of  the  year.  Have  sent  on 
the  treasure  consigned  to  Bengal,  and  cannot  understand  why  the 
Bengal  Council  should  regard  the  Warwick's  treasure  as  consigned 
to  them.  Desire  that  the  consignments  to  each  settlement  may  be 
specifically  stated.  Received  only  482  bags  of  rice  by  the  Britannia. 
The  Salem  merchants  cannot  bring  in  their  cloth,  as  the  enemy 
lie  in  the  way.  Have  ordered  the  purchase  at  a  reduced  price  of 
the  large  stock  of  cloth  at  Vizagapatam  and  Ingeram  which  though 
short-measure  is  of  good  quality.  Enclose  Brohier's  report  on 
the  fortifications.  On  Robins'  recommendation  have  granted  to 
Brohier  and  Call  an  additional  allowance  of  15  Pags.  a  month 
each,  together  with  10  Pags.  a  month  instead  of  keeping  a  general 
table  for  them.  Call  and  O'Hara  are  under  Brohier.  Glass  and 
Morris  have  Ensign's  commissions.  Preston  assists  in  the  Export 
Warehouse.  Knapton  is  at  Ingeram.  Captain  Richards  died 
September  17,  leaving  no  will.  On  September  4,  Captain-Lieu- 
tenant Murray  deserted.  Captain  Killpatrick  takes  passage  on  the 
Dragon.  It  being  a  sickly  season  at  Vizagapatam,  John  Ringer 
died  on  August  6,  Munro  on  July  31,  and  John  Churchey  on 
August  18.  As  the  season  is  far  advanced,  cannot  send  a  Chief 
thither  till  January  ;  meanwhile  have  left  Samuel  Banks  in  charge 
together  with  Captain  John  Crompton.  James  Wilson  will  be  sent 
from  Madras  to  replace  Munro.  Joseph  Fowke  has  resigned  and 
takes  passage  on  the  Dragon. 
Sumatra  affairs. 

A  Danish  ship  has  sailed  from  Tranquebar ;  and  another  will 
follow.  Being  in  troubles  at  Batavia,  the  Dutch  have  not  yet 
decided  what  to  do  on  the  Coast.  Have  heard  nothing  of  foreign 
ships.  Forward  Orme's  reply  to  the  Company's  enquiries  regard- 
ing his  conduct  in  Bengal.     There  being   no   room    for  Captain 


144  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Killpatrick  on  the  Dragon,  he  will  take  his  passage  on  the  Britannia. 
Diamonds,  etc.,  registered  amount  to  116,707  Pags.  The  cash 
balance  is  3,964  current  and  722  Madras  Pags. 

Postscript:  The  bills  drawn  on  the  Company  amount  to  1,169 
Pags. 

Separate  Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to  the 
Company.  Fort  St.  David.  September  30,  1751.  [Public 
Despatches  to  England,  Vol.  19,  pp.  22—25  (Copy  3%  PP)-  Defec- 
tive. Also  Factory  Records,  Fort  St.  David,  Vol.  II,  pp.  365 — 368. 
{India  Office  transcript.)} 

Have  put  in  execution  the  design  of  making  a  diversion  in  the 
Arcot  country  in  order  to  draw  off  the  enemy  from  Trichinopoly. 
130  men  under  Captain  Robert  Clive  embarked  August  22  on  the 
Wager  for  Madras,  where  they  were  joined  by  80  more.  They 
marched  to  Arcot,  and  (beyond  expectation)  occupied  the  Fort 
without  resistance.  The  Sarkar's  and  Muhammad  Ali's  flags  have 
been  hoisted,  and  the  inhabitants  protected.  Clive  reports  several 
successful  skirmishes  with  the  enemy,  but  the  smallness  of  his 
forces  and  lack  of  horse  prevent  any  decision.  The  Nawab  has 
appointed  collectors  of  revenue,  but  nothing  can  be  done  till  he 
sends  two  or  three  thousand  horse.  Yesterday  sent  Lieutenant  Innes 
with  130  men  up  to  Madras  on  the  news  that  Chunda  Sahib's  son 
with  2,000  horse,  some  French  and  sepoys,  had  marched  from 
Gingee. 

At  Trichinopoly  Chunda  Sahib  has  crossed  the  Coleroon  and 
taken  Koyiladi  though  with  considerable  loss;  he  is  now  preparing 
to  cross  the  Cauveri.  It  is  thought  that  he  will  not  attempt  to 
besiege  Trichinopoly,  having  enough  of  neither  men  nor  stores,  but 
that  he  will  blockade  it.  But  it  has  8  months'  provisions,  the  rains 
are  setting  in,  and  Chunda  Sahib  lacks  money  for  his  troops.  If  he 
overcomes  these  difficulties,  Muhammad  Ali  must  make  the  best 
terms  he  can,  '  as  ours  and  the  Nabob's  force  are  not  able  to  face 
them  in  the  field.  '  Our  greatest  disadvantages  are  the  Nawab's 
fear  of  the  French  and  lack  of  money.  Hope  to  remove  the  latter 
in  part  by  collecting  some  of  the  Arcot  revenues.  The  King  of 
Tanjore  is  neuter ;  but  the  King  of  Mysore  is  sending  troops  towards 
Trichinopoly.  Should  Chunda  Sahib  be  successful,  both  these 
countries  would  be  conquered.  A  letter  was  received  a  few  days 
since  purporting  to  come  from  Salabat  Jang,  but  was  written  in  two 
different  hands  and  is  believed  spurious.  The  harkara  admitted  he 
had  come  from   Pondichery  and  had  been  obliged  to  bring  it  by 


CALENDAR  FOR   1751   1752  145 

Dupleix.  It  demands  the  surrender  of  St.  Thome,  Poonamallee, 
and  Tiruvendipuram.  Have  heard  nothing  more  of  the  French  at 
Aurangabad.  It  is  generally  believed  none  will  return.  The 
French  continue  fortifiying  Masulipatam  and  Divi  Island.  The 
Dutch  Chief  who  struck  his  colours  at  Masulipatam  has  been 
summoned  to  Batavia.  Goodere  absolutely  denies  writing  the  letter 
to  the  Nawab  of  Rajahmundry  which  Dupleix  accused  him  of.  Fear 
the  French  may  be  too  strong  in  spite  of  all  efforts  to  defeat  them. 
Of  the  mutinous  officers,  determined  to  send  home  Captains  Killpa- 
trick  and  Richards,  and  Captain-Lieutenant  Murray.  But  Richards 
is  dead  and  Murray  deserted.     Killpatrick  will  sail  on  the  Britannia. 

Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  David.    October  24,  1751.    Received  May  10, 

1752.     [Factory  Records,  Fort  St.   David,  Vol.  II,   pp.  395—404. 
(India  Office  transcript.)] 

The  Britannia  arrived  here  on  October  2.  Have  laded  on  her 
bales  which  fell  short  of  her  charterparty  by  nearly  28  tons. 
These  three  years,  ships  have  been  despatched  late  in  October. 
This  has  been  unavoidable,  and  it  is  lucky  that  they  have  escaped 
the  usual  monsoon  storms.  As  ships  can  seldom  arrive  from  Bengal 
before  the  end  of  September,  propose  next  year  to  keep  one  of  the 
Coast  and  Bay  ships  for  the  September  despatch.  Shipping  news. 
Request  that  red  fir  spars  be  sent  instead  of  the  white  ones  which, 
through  want  of  turpentine,  dry,  snap  and  decay  in  this  climate. 
Are  in  much  need  of  muskets,  military  stores,  etc.  Send  a  cartridge 
box  of  a  more  convenient  pattern  than  those  usually  sent.  Many 
of  the  muskets  received  this  year  were  poor.  Though  the  cash 
balance  is  low,  no  Bengal  bullion  has  been  detained.  Formerly 
large  payments  were  paid  into  cash  for  bills  ;  but  this  has  greatly 
declined,  and  more  bullion  is  needed.  'Our  situation -from  the 
revolution  in  the  Country  Government  and  the  measures  of  our 
neighbours  is  troublesome,'  and  larger  garrisons  are  needed.  But 
it  is  hoped  that  with  the  additional  revenues,  when  the  troubles 
are  over,  expenses  will  be  no  more  burdensome  than  formerly. 
The  investment  has  not  yet  suffered  much  from  the  troubles, 
though  the  sortment  here  is  not  as  good  as  it  might  be.  A 
suitable  reduction  of  price  will  be  made  if  the  merchants  will  not 
improve  it.  The  Vizagapatam  Council  anticipates  troubles  from  the 
French  and  the  Nawab,  but  Andrews  at  Madapollam  thinks 
differently.  The  Council  believes  that  the  French  will  attempt  it. 
Can  promise  a  full  ship  in  January.     Will  keep  down  the  merchants' 

19 


146  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

balances.  Captain  deGingins  reported,  on  October  16,  that  the 
rains  prevented  Chunda  Sahib  and  the  French  from  advancing 
nearer  to  Trichinopoly.  They  have  erected  two  batteries  which 
are  so  distant  from  the  Fort  as  to  appear  to  be  intended  only  to 
defend  their  camp.  Stores,  etc.,  sent  from  Pondichery  via  Karikal 
have  not  yet  reached  them.  As  the  enemy  only  intended  to 
blockade  Trichinopoly,  Captain  Gingins  was  ordered  to  leave 
the  command  to  Captain  Cope  with  just  enough  force  for  its 
defence  and  march  this  way  with  the  rest  of  our  force  and  the 
Nawab's  horse.  Captain  Clive  writes  from  Arcot  on  October 
18  that  he  can  maintain  the  Fort  against  the  enemy  and  that 
with  the  help  of  the  Madras  detachment  he  could  even  take  the 
offensive.  This  diversion  has  prevented  Chunda  Sahib  from 
collecting  rents.  Hope  to  secure  some  of  them  if  Captain  Gingins' 
detachment  and  the  Nawab's  horse  come  this  way.  The  Vizaga- 
patam  Council  fears  attack,  because  Jaffar  Ali  Khan  gives 
out  that  when  he  takes  leave  the  new  Nawab  will  request 
orders  to  join  the  French  and  dispossess  the  English.  Andrews 
who  had  lived  long  to  the  Northward  thinks  that  this  is  only  a 
scheme  of  Jaffar  Ali  to  get  a  present.  But  as  the  Pondichery  Council 
describes  Dupleix  as  the  Moghal's  Governor  and  threatens  to 
report  our  proceedings  to  the  Moghal,  believe  that  the  French  will, 
if  possible,  make  the  Country  Government  attack  the  English.  The 
Faujdar  of  Ganjam  desires  the  resettlement  of  the  factory  there  ; 
but  as  such  promises  are  worth  nothing,  shall  take  advantage  of 
this  offer  to  recover  the  Company's  effects  and  balances  there. 
Have  received  a  further  letter  said  to  come  from  Salabat  Jang,  but 
the  behaviour  of  the  harkaras  who  brought  it  made  us  suspect  it  to 
be  the  production  of  Dupleix  and  Chunda  Sahib.  It  is  remarkable 
that  this  letter  should  arrive  the  same  day  as  Chunda  Sahib's 
answer  to  Saunders'  letter  explaining  his  reasons  for  supporting 
Muhammad  Ali  as  the  nominee  of  Nasir  Jang  and  then  of  Ghazi-ud- 
din  Khan.  It  is  said  that  Chunda  Sahib  and  others  have  counterfeit 
seals  of  the  Moghal  and  his  officers.  Proposed  to  Chunda  Sahib 
that  he  may  hold  Arcot  leaving  Trichinopoly  to  Muhammad  Ali, 
pending  the  Moghal's  decision.  But  this  was  rejected  with  scorn. 
The  Council  considers  that  Chunda  Sahib  only  serves  as  a  cloak  of 
French  ambitions.  As  their  success  must  ruin  the  Company's  trade, 
we  had  to  oppose  their  evil  schemes.  Salabat  Jang's  letter  advised 
the  English  to  give  up  Muhammad  Ali,  to  confine  themselves  to 
their  settlements  and  that  Ghazi-ud-din  Khan  has  been  replaced  by 
himself,     John  Trenwith   has   been  killed   at  Arcot.     'We  cannot 


CALENDAR  FOR  1751-1752  147 

but  with  the  greatest  justice  to  his  merit,  mention  Mr.  Robert  Clive 
one  of  your  covenanted  servants,  who,  when  we  were  under  a 
necessity  for  officers,  voluntarily  engaged  himself,  without  any  con- 
sideration of  pay,  and  has  behaved  with  great  courage  and  conduct. ' 
On  the  intercession  of  Eyles  and  others  on  behalf  of  Captain  Kilipa- 
trick  and  on  the  latter's  apology  for  his  actions,  he  has  been  severely 
reprimanded  and  restored  to  his  rank.  The  St.  Mary's  Church 
wardens  request  the  Company  to  receive  on  their  account  3.568 
Pags.  at  7%  per  annum  from  William  Monson.  They  further 
request  leave  for  an  organ  to  be  sent  out-  Robert  Goodere  denies 
having  written  the  letter  ascribed  to  him  by  the  Pondichery  Council. 
Can  get  little  reliable  news  from  Pondichery.  The  Achilles  and  the 
Rochelle  have  sailed  thence  partly  loaded  for  the  Mauritius.  The 
Moors  are  said  to  have  demanded  the  return  of  Masulipatam  but  the 
French  are  still  fortifying  that  place  and  Divi  Island.  His  Majesty's 
sloop  Swallow  which  is  repairing  in  Bengal  will  call  here  for 
despatches  to  Europe.  Brohier  writes  separately  and  sends  several 
plans.  The  Bengal  Council  having  omitted  to  send  papers  regard- 
ing the  saltpetre  and  redwood  on  the  Britannia,  they  cannot  be 
included  in  the  Coast  invoice.  Her  Coast  cargo  amounts  to  147,631 
Pags. ;  diamonds,  etc.,  registered,  98,151  Pags.,  and  the  Captain's 
private  trade,  6,357  Pags.  The  cash  balance  is  4,960  current  Pags. 
and  722  Madras  Pags. 

Postscript:  Bills   drawn  on   the   Company   for  130   Pags.    and 
certificates,  1,845  Pags. 

Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
FORT  St.  DAVID.  JANUARY  25,  1752.  [Public  Despatches  to 
England,  Vol.  1 9,  pp.  25  —  31  (Copy  6%  pp.)  Defective.  Also  Factory 
Records,  Fort  St.  David,  Vol.  II,  pp.  593-599.  (India  Office 
transcript. )] 

-  Now  write  by  the  Don  Carlos  bound  for  Persia.  China  shipping 
news.  News  from  Bengal  and  Bombay.  Tellicherry  has  been 
engaged  in  a  troublesome  war,  but  the  latest  private  letters  report  a 
cessation  of  arms.  His  Majesty's  ship  Swallow  is  hourly  expected. 
The  Warwick  is  being  laded  [for  Europe].  Shall  put  up  the 
broadcloth  to  outcry  on  January  29,  '  but  as  some  of  the  principal 
marts  for  that  article  have  been  lately  plundered  by  the  Marathas, 
we  are  apprehensive  there  will  be  but  few  purchasers.'  35,394  taels 
of  gold  have  been  remitted  from  China  with  25,560  oz.  [of  gold  ?] 
The  investment  has  exceeded  expectations  and  will  amount  to  near 


148  the  madras  despatches 

4,600  bales.     The  revenues  of  the  new  acquisitions  have  hitherto 
been  collected  without  difficulty. 

Believe  Dupleix  has  been  endeavouring  the  ruin  of  our  Northern 
factories.  Jaffar  Ali  Khan,  Nawab  of  Rajahmundry,  wrote  to 
Westcott  and  Andrews  that  Salabat  Jang  had  ordered  him  to 
destroy  Ingeram  and  Madapollam,  and  he  begged  them  to  remove 
their  effects.  Westcott  accordingly  withdrew  to  a  small  island  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river ;  on  this  the  Moors  sent  a  detachment  of 
horse  and  foot ;  but,  to  the  disappointment  of  the  French,  they  only 
hauled  down  the  English  flag.  Have  received  300  bales  from  West- 
cott and  159  from  Andrews.  The  French  are  still  trying  to  gain 
their  point,  but  are  so  disliked  that  they  will  find  it  difficult. 
Andrews  has  withdrawn  from  Madapollam  to  Bandarmalanka ;  the 
latter  is  at  present  better  situated  for  trade,  as  the  French  claim  an 
exclusive  right  to  the  Madapollam  river  though  the  Madapollam 
factory  has  not  yet  been  touched. 

The  War  has  of  late  gone  more  favourably.  Clive  was  besieged 
in  Arcot  by  the  French  and  Chunda  Sahib's  son  from  September 
24  to  November  14.  As  Clive  had  not  more  than  a  month's  provi- 
sions, had  to  send  Captain  Killpatrick  to  relieve  him.  But  before 
his  arrival,  the  enemy  had  made  two  breaches  and  attempted  to 
storm  the  Fort.  They  were  beaten  off  with  great  loss,  and  decamped 
abandoning  their  cannon  the  next  day,  when  Killpatrick  and  2,000 
Maratha  horse  appeared.  On  December  3,  Clive  and  the  Marathas 
beat  them  at  Ami,  with  considerable  loss  in  killed  and  prisoners. 
They  rallied  at  Chetpattu,  and  are  now  near  Covelong,  it  is  said 
with  a  design  to  attack  St.  Thome,  but,  it  is  believed,  are  not  in  a 
condition  to  do  it.  Killpatrick  is  at  Arcot  with  230  men  ;  Captain 
Campbell  with  130  Europeans  and  500  sepoys  [is  camped  near 
Madras].  This,success  '  has  raised  our  reputation  with  the  natives, 
before  sunk  too  low.' 

At  Trichinopoly  the  enemy  have  been  busy  assembling  stores 
and  cannon,  but  have  hardly  begun  their  approaches,  though 
they  have  strengthened  their  camp.  There  have  been  several 
skirmishes  in  which  we  have  generally  had  the  advantage,  in 
one  of  them  killing  a  Captain,  Lieutenant,  Quartermaster,  and 
2T  troopers.  The  Nawab  has  now  been  joined  by  the  Mysore 
troops  and  3,000  Marathas ;  and  the  King  of  Tanjore  is  expected 
to  declare  for  him.  What  is  most  to  be  feared  is  their  receiving 
reinforcements  or  buying  off  our  allies.  Intend  to  press  an 
engagement  as  soon  as  possible ;  if  we  are  successful,  their 
losses  should  be  so  heavy  that  unless  they  receive  reinforcements 


CALENDAR   FOR   T751    1752  149 

quite  disproportioned  to  ours,  we  shall  be  able  to  stop  their 
schemes.  The  French  continue  in  possession  of  Masulipatam,  are 
fortifying  Divi  Island,  and  have  built  two  small  batteries  at  the 
entrance  to  the  Madapollam  river.  The  French  grants  were  mostly 
made  by  Muzaffar  Jang  who  was  never  legally  invested  with  the 
Government  of  the  Deccan.  At  present  have  no  forces  to  spare  ; 
but  if  successful  in  the  Carnatic,  will  support  our  claim  to  Divi 
j  Island.  Expect  a  detachment  of  200  men  from  Bengal.  Trust  that 
our  conduct  may  meet  with  approval. 

Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 
Fort  St.  David.  February  15,  1752.  Received  Sep- 
tember 17,  1752.  [Factory  Records,  Fort  St.  David,  Vol.  II, 
pp.  601 — 618.     {India  Office  transcript.)] 

Cite  despatch  of  January  25.  Have  laded  1,445  bales  on  the 
Warwick  and  sent  her  to  Madras  to  be  filled  up. 

Have  sent  1,050  bags  of  rice  to  Sumatra.  Have  received  from 
Bombay  619  barrels  of  gunpowder  sent  out  from  Europe. 

Have  punished  one  Govinda  Chetti  for  making  debased  coins 
within  the  Company's  bounds,  and  confiscated  the  coins.  There 
is  much  difference  in  the  weights  used  in  the  Mint  and  the  Ware- 
house, due  to  their  more  constant  use  in  the  former  than  in  the 
latter.  Have  ordered  the  Mint  weights  to  be  adjusted  with  the 
Warehouse  weights  twice  a  year.  Apply  for  a  standard  set  of 
weights.  This  year  Bombay  sent  only  727  barrels  of  gunpowder. 
The  demand  being  very  great,  have  ordered  it  to  be  made  locally. 
Brohier  thinks  that  at  least  four  or  five  thousand  barrels  must  be 
kept  in  stock.  At  the  recent  sale,  broadcloth  secured  better 
prices.  The  ordinary  green  would  not  sell.  The  shalloons  sold 
tolerably.  Bengal  wants  half  their  treasure  in  Madras  rupees,  a 
quarter  in  Arcot  rupees  and  a  quarter  in  bullion.  Shall  decline 
the  Bengal  proposal  to  put  a  mint  mark  on  Arcot  rupees.  Note  the 
great  difference  in  the  touch  of  gold  according  to  the  invoice  from 
China  and  the  Mint  assays  here.  Received  the  amount  of  Captain 
Webb's  respondentia  bond  for  4,640  oz.  of  silver.  Allowed  him 
the  privilege  of  tea  usually  granted  to  China  Captains.  Laded  on 
the  Warwick  300  bags  of  saltpetre  at  half-freight  and  some  old 
guns,  etc.,  freight  free. 

Have  coined  30,000  Madras  Pags.  from  the  China  gold  for 
the  Northern  settlements  where  a  good  investment  is  expected 
in  spite  of  French  obstruction.  Have  contracted  with  a  new 
merchant  at  Salem,  but  the  troubles  in  the  country  make  it  difficult 


150  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

to  get   cloth.     Rice  gets    damaged   for  want  of  proper  granaries. 
Will  in  future  lay  in  paddy  which  is  less  liable  to  decay. 

Chunda  Sahib's  son  with  some  French  left  Covelong,  plundered 
and  burnt  some  villages  of  Poonamallee,  and  carried  off  to  Pondi- 
chery  the  furniture  of  houses  at  the  Mount  and  Marmalong.  The 
French  Council  repudiates  the  English  claims  to  these  places. 
Have  been  unable  to  check  these  ravages  for  want  of  horse,  and 
have  therefore  ordered  as  many  as  could  be  got  to  be  entertained 
on  the  Nawab's  account.  The  French  have  again  withdrawn 
beyond  Poonamallee,  and  when  the  1,000  horse  requested  of  the 
Nawab  reach  Arcot  shall  be  able  to  keep  the  French  at  a  distance. 
All  the  Mysore  and  Maratha  troops  have  reached  Trichinopoly. 
The  Tanjore  King  is  ready  to  join  them.  'The  enemy  were 
intrenched  up  to  their  chins ;  provisions  excessively  scarce  and 
continually  harrassed  by  the  horse.'  Captain  de  Gingins  proposes 
to  attack  the  enemy's  rear  with  half  his  force.  No  news  from 
Aurangabad.  The  French  succeeded  by  presents  and  promises  in 
obtaining  from  the  Pegu  King  permission  to  erect  a  factory  there. 
They  try  their  very  best  to  exclude  the  English  from  Pegu.  'The 
grandeur  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty  was  displayed  with  all 
the  tinsell  imaginable.  Their  numerous  armies,  conduct,  valour, 
and  possession  of  this  Coast,  were  made  use  of  as  so  many  argu- 
ments and  convincing  marks  of  the  power  of  their  nation,  but  to  no 
purpose.  The  many  years  we  had  trafficked  at  that  port,  the  just- 
ness of  our  dealings,  and  the  advantages  accruing  from  so  extensive 
a  trade,  entirely  overweighed  them.'  Pegu  is  a  suitable  place  for 
ship-building  and  produces  many  commodities  vendable  on  the 
Coast.  Westcott  found  the  present  site  of  the  Ingeram  factory 
unsuitable  and  suggested  a  new  one  to  be  erected  at  Coringa  which 
is  on  a  river  and  nearer  the  sea.  But  for  the  present,  the  proposal 
has  been  rejected.  Agreed  however  to  the  renting  of  Coringa  and 
Malaram.  Andrews  will  rent  Bandarmalanka.  Will  cultivate 
friendship  with  Vijayaram  Raz.  The  French  on  the  strength  of 
Salabat  Jang's  parwannas  seized  several  towns  in  the  North,  but 
were  obliged  to  quit  them.  Will  send  him  a  small  present.  The 
Vizagapatam  garrison,  which  consists  of  superannuated  Europeans 
and  topasses,  will  be  reinforced.  An  Ensign's  command  will  be 
sent  to  Ingeram  and  Madapollam. 

Have  erected  two  small  choultries  for  the  washers.     On  Robins' 
suggestion,  a  redoubt  has  been  built  at  St.  Thome.     The  cost  far. 
exceeds  Robins'  estimate,  but  he  meant  to  have  completed  them  in 
sod  works,  an  idea  which  he  had  to  abandon   before  he  left.     The 


CALENDAR  FOR  1751-1752  151 

materials  are  good  and  cheap  and  workmen  regularly  paid.     The 
Betel  and  Tobacco,  and  the  Weighing  and  Measuring  farms  have 
been  let  out  for  3,000  and  400  Pags.,  respectively,  or  double  the 
former  rent.     On  the  arrival  of  the  King's  troops,  the  Arrack  farm 
was  abolished,  but  it  has  been  impossible  to  prevent  the  clandes- 
tine sale  of  liquor  to  the  men.     It  has  therefore  been  decided  to 
license  arrack  shops  in  the  principal  streets.    The  farm  has  been 
let  for  2,000  Pags.  a  year.     This  revenue  will  be  raised  not  from 
the  Military  only,  but  from  the  Moors,  Gentoos,  Malabars,  sepoys, 
lascars,   and  boat  people.     Will    make   proper   enquiries    before 
permitting   any   reduction   in   the  revenues   of  Poonamallee   and 
St.    Thome,    lately     pillaged    by     the     enemy.     13    "covenanted 
servants  have  been  received  this  year ;  8  have  since  died  or  returned 
to  Europe.     Are  therefore  still   in    need   of   writers.     Fowke  pro- 
ceeded on  the  Dragon  and  Prince  and  Smyth  King  on  the  Warwick. 
Goodere  went  to  Bengal  for  his  health   promising  to    return   in 
January,  but  now  hear  that  he  is  proceeding  on  the  London.     He 
owes  8,379  Pags.  to  the  Company  and  his  private  accounts  are 
unsettled.     We  shall  attach  his  money  in  Henry  Powney's  hands 
on  the  Company's  account.     According  to  several  complaints,  '  he 
has  left  his  post  with  the  general  discontent  and  murmurs  of  the 
whole  place.'     Norris  has  returned  from  China.     Matthew  Empson 
died  intestate   on   January   24.     Captain    Cope    was   wounded    at 
Trichinopoly   and   since    died.     Ensign   Rouchead   was  killed    at 
Tirupasur.     Lieutenant  Bulkeley  was  shot  at  the  siege  of  Conjeve- 
ram.    Richard  Starke  succeeds  Prince  at  Madras.     Charles  Boddam 
is  Export  Warehouse-keeper,  Commissary  and  Accountant.     Pigot 
succeeds   Goodere  and  Wynch    succeeds    Pigot   as    Storekeeper. 
Hugh  Norris  is  under  the  Paymaster  vice  Empson.     John  Walsh 
being  in  bare  health  is  succeeded  as  Secretary  at  Fort  St.  George 
by  Peter  St.  Paul.     Charles    Hopkins   is  to  assist  at  Ingeram  in 
place   of    Baird,    whose   imprudence    threatened   to    involve   the 
Company    in  disputes  with  the   Country   powers.     He    has   been 
transferred  to    Vizagapatam.     Lieutenant   Pascall  has    been    pro- 
moted   Captain    vice    Captain    Richards     deceased;    Lieutenant 
Maskelyne,  Captain  Lieutenant  vice  Captain   Lieutenant   Murray 
deserted;  Lieutenant  Campbell,  Adjutant  at  Madras  vice  Bulkeley  ; 
and  Lieutenant  Pigou,    Quartermaster    vice  Pascall.     Maskelyne 
will  succeed  Cope  as  Captain  ;  Lieutenant  Pigou  as  Captain  Lieute- 
nant; and  Ensign    Cooper  as   Quartermaster.     Solomon    Nathan 
returns    home    on  this    ship    with    5  "discharged    military.     Coja 
Shawmier  Sultan  requests  his  house  to  be  restored  or  rent  allowed. 


i52  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

In  future  the  Military  Paymaster  will  receive  stoppages  from  the 
recruits  to  defray  the  cost  of  their  clothing. 

The  Dutch  continue  averse  to  interfere  in  the  Carnatic. 
A  French  ship  has  sailed  from  Pondichery  with  piece-goods, 
redwood  and  pepper.  Received  a  lengthy  letter  of  146  pp.  from 
Dupleix,  dated  February  18,  N.S.  It  is  a  narrative  of  the 
Carnatic  affairs  since  the  War  and  designed  for  the  public,  in 
vindication  of  his  conduct  and  throwing  the  blame  for  the  troubles 
upon  the  English.  From  the  beginning  to  end,  it  is  full  of  un- 
truths or  exaggerations.  '  The  author  will  appear  ridiculous  by 
attempting  to  impose  on  the  world  so  gross  a  cheat.'  By  the 
hostilities  the  French  daily  commit,  are  convinced  that  they 
would  drive  the  English  out  of  India,  if  only  they  had  the  power 
to  do  so.  Have  purchased  stores  amounting  to  952  Pags.  at  the 
outcry  held  by  His  Majesty's  Naval  Storekeeper.  Granted  a  certi- 
ficate for  3,500  Pags.  paid  in  by  him. 

Supplement :  Gold  from  Harrison,  etc.,  though  invoiced  to 
weigh  I465  taels,  only  weighs  1,464  taels.  This  is  probably 
due  to  a  difference  in  computing  the  taels.  Owing  to  the 
unsafety  of  the  roads,  cannot  get  the  rolls  of  the  military  in  time 
for  this  ship.  A  registry  of  diamonds  has  been  opened  at  Madras, 
and  those  registered  here  amount  to  5,931  Pags.  The  cash 
balance  on  hand  is  16,454  current  Pags.  and  27,885  Madras  Pags. 
Troubles  in  Surat  and  Tellicherry.  Cannot  expect  any  surplus 
tonnage  from  hence. 

Postscript:  The  bills  drawn  on  the  Company  amount  to 
1,879  Pags. ;  and  the  certificates  3,500  Pags. 

Abstract  of  Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to 
the  Company.    Fort  St.  David.    February  24,  1752.    Re- 
ceived   DECEMBER  27,  1752.     [Coast  and  Bay  abstracts,   Letters 
received,  Vol.  5,  p.  340.     {India  Office  transcript.)] 
The  Warwick  sailed  home  from  Madras  about  February  23.     The 
Swallow  and  the  Porto  Bello  sloops  arrived  on  February  18,     Robert 
Westgarth  goes  as  Resident   at  Pegu  to  secure  a  grant  of  the 
Negrais.     Large   quantities    of   copper   hoops   stolen   out  of  the 
military   godown.     The   Military    Storehouse-keeper's   request   to 
write  them  off  is  referred  to  the  Company.     According  to  Brohier's 
advice,  desire   a  regular  supply  of  400  barrels  of  gunpowder  a 
year.     '  A  reinforcemnt  of   200  received  from  Bengal   has  enabled 
Captain  Clive  to  march  to  Tritchanopoly  with  a  detachment  of 
military  and  seapoys  to  act  with  Captain   de   Gingins.'     A  letter 


CALENDAR  FOR  1751-1752  153 

received  from  Salabat  Jang  by  way  of  Pondichery  on  February  21. 
Distrust  all  letters  coming  from  Pondichery.  He  has  been  desired 
to  send  his  letters  by  the  people  belonging  to  the  English.  Goodere 
announced  by  the  Sivallow  his  intention  of  going  home  from 
Bengal.  Pigot  is  going  to  Vizagapatam  to  settle  his  accounts. 
Bills  for  3,720  Pags.  payable  to  Goodere;  and  certificates  for  488 
Pags.  on  account  of  Captain  Lewis  Tornery's  estate. 


Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India  House.    August  23,   175 1.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  S5>  PP-  20 — 42  {Copy  23  pp.)] 
Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  despatches  dated  February  12, 
September  26,  October  24,  1750,  and  February  7,  1751  ;  also  of 
Robins's  letters  of  September  25,  and  October  19,  1750,  and  January 
24  and  February  6,  1751.  The  Elizabeth  lost  her  passage  and  did 
not  reach  England  till  May  8.  Declare  Madras  the  seat  of  the 
Presidency,  with  all  the  settlements  on  the  Coromandel  Coast  and 
Sumatra  subordinate  thereto. 

Are  building  '  a  ship  of  force  '  for  the  protection  of  the  Malabar 
trade.  She  will  soon  be  ready  to  sail  and  will  be  sent  out  with 
treasure  to  Madras.  Have  taken  up  14  ships  for  the  coming 
season.  The  present  ship,  the  Durrington,  brings  treasure  to  be 
coined  with  all  speed  for  Bengal.  Name  the  Secret  Committee. 
Half  the  kintledge  of  the  Coast  and  Bay  ships  is  to  be  made  up 
with  saltpetre,  and  as  much  more  is  to  be  laded  as  will  complete 
their  charterparty  tonnage.  Measures  to  be  concerted  with  the 
other  settlements  for  the  lading  home  of  as  many  ships  as  possible. 
The  Company's  intentions  of  giving  a  good  supply  of  slaves  to  the 
Coast  and  Sumatra  have  been  defeated  by  not  sending  the  Swallozv 
on  a  second  voyage  to  Madagascar.  Captain  Bell's  objections  were 
frivolous.  He  did  actually  bring  245  slaves  ;  he  could  easily  have 
brought  150  or  200  on  a  second  trip.  Disposal  of  shipping  at 
Sumatra  and  elsewhere.  If  possible  suitable  cargoes  to  be  provided 
for  the  China  ships.  Approve  the  orders  at  Fort  St.  David  against 
putting  freight  or  respondentia  onto  French  and  Dutch  ships.  Are 
assured  by  those  conversant  with  the  Country  trade  that  Company's 
ships,  detained  in  India  for  lack  of  cargo  home,  can  be  advantage- 
ously let  out  on  freight  voyages,  as  merchants  consider  them  safer 
than  Country  vessels.  Public  notice  is  to  be  given  of  any  ships  that 
may  have  to  be  detained  ;  and  they  should  be  let  out  to  Company's 
servants,  Armenians,  or  other  responsible  persons,  at  such  rates  as 
will  at  least  cover  the  demurrage  and  charges.  If  this  proves 
20 


154  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

feasible,  ships  may  be  detained  in  India  and  surplus  tonnage  (at 
half-freight)  laded  on  the  ships  sent  home.  Freighters  do  not  give 
proper  rates  of  hire  for  Company's  ships  because  the  Commanders 
usually  fill  much  of  the  space  with  their  own  private  trade  ;  proper 
methods  should  be  used  to  keep  them  within  bounds. 

Being  determined  to  promote  the  woollen  trade,  shall  send  a  full 
supply  this  season.  Disapprove  the  delivery  of  last  year's  broad- 
cloth to  Linga  Chetti  contrary  to  the  Company's  positive  orders. 
All  goods  are  to  be  sold  in  the  most  public  manner.  Intend  a 
large  supply  of  bullion  ;  as  much  as  possible  is  to  be  coined  and 
sent  to  Bengal,  as  the  debts  there  should  be  discharged.  Send  on 
this  ship  £28,084  worth  of  gold  to  supply  the  need  of  it  on  the  Coast ; 
but  the  value  of  this  is  to  be  forwarded  in  rupees  to  Bengal, 
whither  the  full  amount  of  all  bullion  on  this  ship  is  to  be  sent. 
Variation  in  the  fineness  of  rupees  coined  at  Fort  St.  David ;  the 
Assay-Master  and  Linga  Chetti  to  be  informed  of  this.  Information 
regarding  the  exchange-rates  of  gold  and  silver  to  be  sent  home 
by  every  ship.  The  forwarding  to  the  port  of  consignment  of  over- 
carried  private  silver,  coral,  etc. 

Observe  '  with  infinite  concern '  the  distracted  state  of  the 
country  and  the  ill  situation  of  the  investment ;  but  have  no  doubts 
of  the  Council's  doing  its  best.  As  the  Northern  settlements 
hold  out  the  best  prospect,  they  should  be  well  supplied  with 
money.  Desire  that  no  cloth  be  sent  brown,  if  it  can  possibly  be 
avoided.  Approve  the  refusal  of  further  advances  to  the  mer- 
chants, as  their  balances  are  in  general  too  large,  especially  for 
1749  and  1750.  Bengal  to  supply  saltpetre  for  kintledge  and 
completing  cargoes. 

Having  considered  the  destructive  schemes  of  the  French  and 
the  confusion  of  the  country,  believe  it  will  be  best  '  to  stand  upon 
your  guard  and  wait  the  event '  without  interfering  further  than  is 
required  for  the  preservation  of  the  Company's  rights  and  privileges. 
All  opportunities  should  be  taken  of  pointing  out  to  the  Country 
powers  the  fatal  consequences  of  French  success ;  and  all  proper 
means  used  to  disconcert  their  schemes  short  of  acts  of  hostility  in 
breach  of  the  Treaty  except  in  self-defence.  Will  send  such  forces 
as  will  enable  the  English  to  act  upon  the  defensive  at  least. 
Formal  protests  to  be  made  against  any  infringements  of  the 
Treaty  and  authenticated  narratives  of  such  to  be  sent  home. 
Approve  the  sending  of  Hopkins  to  hoist  the  English  flag  at  Divi 
Island  and  the  Masulipatam  factory,  with  orders  to  protest  if  the 
flag  was  insulted.  Presents  to  the  Country  powers  should  be  as 
frugal  as  possible  ;  that  to  Nasir  Jang  exceeded  reasonable  bounds. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1751-1752  155 

William  Cockell  goes  out  by  this  ship  as  Deputy  Governor  of 
Fort  St.  David  and  Stringer  Lawrence  as  Commander  of  the  forces. 
Both  are  well  acquainted  with  the  Company's  sentiments  on  the 
present  situation.  Recommend  the  maintenance  of  internal  har- 
mony. Appoint  Saunders,  Cockell  and  Lawrence,  or  any  two  of 
them,  a  Committee  to  transact  affairs  with  the  Country  Governments 
and  European  nations  so  far  as  their  political  conduct  affects  the 
Company,  but  without  power  to  disburse  money  except  with  the 
approval  of  a  majority  of  the  Council.  Robins,  whenever  present, 
is  also  to  sit  on  the  Committee,  which  shall  communicate  to  the 
Court  of  Directors  full  accounts  of  its  proceedings. 

Desire  duly  attested  statements  regarding  La  Mettrie  and 
Barnewall  in  case  they  should  attempt  action  against  the  Company. 
All  encroachments  by  the  Dutch  on  English  possessions  or  trade 
must  be  reported  in  the  fullest  and  most  authentic  manner.  The 
utmost  endeavours  to  be  made  to  fulfil  the  assurances  that  the  new 
revenues  will  cover  the  cost  of  the  necessary  garrisons.  Approve 
the  system  of  recording  Military  and  Political  deliberations  apart. 
Note  with  pleasure  that  Robins  was  consulted  on  the  events  that 
followed  the  death  of  Nasir  Jang.  Are  gratified  at  the  voluntary 
grant  made  of  Devikottai  by  the  King  of  Tan jore ;  but  friendship 
with  that  Prince  should  not  be  allowed  to  lead  to  profitless  expedi- 
tions. As  the  exactions  of  the  Country  Government  rendered  the 
Ganjam  factory  useless,  approve  the  withdrawal  of  it.  Since 
Saunders  became  President,  affairs  have  been  conducted  with 
great  prudence,  application  and  spirit. 

Repairs  at  Madras.  Approve  Robins's  scheme  for  completing 
the  Fort  St.  David  defences  at  a  cost  of  £5,000,  as  also  that  for 
completing  the  defences  of  Fort  St.  George.  His  reasons  for  pro- 
ceeding with  the  works  at  both  places  without  awaiting  the 
Company's  sanction  are  satisfactory.  Also  approve  his  proposal 
to  secure  the  Black  Town  at  Madras  with  such  an  enclosure  as  to 
require  a  siege  and  so  give  time  for  the  removal  of  valuables  into  the 
Fort.  Agree  that  this  will  encourage  wealthy  men  to  settle  there. 
Hoped  to  have  received  a  plan  and  estimates ;  but  have  such 
confidence  in  Robins  as  to  permit  the  work  to  be  begun  unless  the 
Committee  objects.  As  the  inhabitants  will  be  so  directly  benefitted 
they  will  no  doubt  contribute  to  the  expense  by  such  means  as  the 
Council  finds  practicable. 

There  will  now  be  less  occasion  for  commercial  buildings  and 
repairs  at  Fort  St.  David.     But  as  the  expenses  of  buildings  must 


156  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

even  with  the  greatest  economy  run  high,  a  Committee  is  to  be 
appointed  to  consider  with  Robins 's  assistance  the  best  method  of 
providing  materials  and  employing  artificers.  The  Master  Car- 
penters at  Madras  and  Fort  St.  David  are  to  receive  a  monthly 
allowance  instead  of  providing  timber,  etc.,  which  in  future  is  to  be 
supplied  from  the  Company's  stores.  Are  convinced  that  the 
Paymaster's  monopoly  of  making  and  supplying  bricks  must  also 
be  against  the  Company's  interests.  Robins  is  to  be  informed  of 
these  orders. 

Are  convinced  that  it  is  impossible  to  collect  the  rents  of  the 
Company's  possessions,  and  approve  their  being  farmed  out,  as  also 
the  letting  of  the  Madras  farms  for  one  year  only,  as  their  value 
will  now  increase.  Cannot  grant  Shawmier  Sultan's  request  to 
allow  him  and  his  father  to  continue  to  reside  in  the  White  Town. 
No  Armenians  are  to  be  allowed  to  do  so,  and  those  who  own  houses 
there  are  to  sell  them  to  European  Protestants.  The  Company 
considers  Armenians  very  useful  people,  and  they  should  have  all 
the  accommodation  that  the  Black  Town  can  afford.  The  Danish 
Missionaries  are  to  be  encouraged  in  propagating  the  Protestant 
religion  among  all  residing  under  English  protection.  Jaggu,  son 
of  Narayanan  deceased,  has  petitioned*  the  Company  to  order  the 
restitution  of  Chintadripet  to  the  heirs  of  Narayanan  and  Chinna- 
tambi,  together  with  a  village  and  temple,  promising  to  repay 
12,576  Pags.  due  to  the  Company  on  account  of  Chintadripet, 
and  asking  that  the  Council  may  assist  the  trustees  of  his  father's 
estate  to  recover  the  outstanding  debts.  Direct  an  inquiry  to  be 
made  and  reported  for  the  Company's  orders. 

The  Presidency  is  to  be  removed  to  Madras  as  soon  as  possible. 
Have  appointed  by  a  commission  under  the  Company's  seal,  dated 


*  A  copy  of  the  petition  forms  pp.  184 — 186  of  Public  Despatches  from  England, 
vol.  55.  It  recites  that  George  Morton  Pitt  when  Governor  commissioned. Narayanan  and 
the  Warehouse  conicoply,  Chinnatambi,  to  build  the  weaving-village  of  Chintadri- 
pet; that  Narayanan  built  a  pagoda  at  his  own  charges,  costing  18,700  Pags.;  that 
till  Narayanan's  death  (April  1743),  the  Company  made  the  trustees  advances  of  63,720 
Pags.,  of  which  51,144  Pags.  had  been  repaid  in  goods.  The  revenues  of  the 
village  (620  Pags.  a  year)  had  been  settled  on  the  trustees,  while  revenues  to  the 
amount  of  1,500  Pags.  a  year,  with  a  village  worth  300  Pags.  a  year,  had  been 
assigned  to  the  temple.  Morse  when  Governor  gave  the  whole  management  to  Chinna- 
tambi, ordering  him  to  pay  all  the  surplus  to  the  Company  till  the  debt  was  extin- 
guished. Until  1746,  he  collected  4,000  Pags.,  but  paid  in  nothing.  Since  1749  the 
Company  has  held  the  village  assigned  to  the  temple,  and  Chinnatambi  (who  recently 
died)  collected  the  revenues.  Prays  that  Chintadripet  may  be  placed  under  the  joint 
management  of  Narayanan's  and  Chinnatambi's  heirs,  but  that  the  temple  and  its  revenues 
be  delivered  to  the  petitioner. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1751-1752  157 

August  21,  the  following  Council : — Thomas  Saunders,  President ; 
William  Cockell,  Second  and  Deputy  Governor  of  Fort  St. 
David  with  succession  to  the  chair;  Major  William  Kinneer, 
Third  and  to  remain  as  such  ;  Richard  Starke  ;  Joseph  Fowke  ; 
Charles  Boddam;  Henry  Powney;  Robert  Goodere ;  George 
Pigot ;  Foss  Westcott  and  Alexander  Wynch.  Vacancies  in  the 
Council  are  to  be  filled  by  the  next  senior  in  standing  unless  there  is 
reason  to  the  contrary.  Prince  is  to  be  sent  home  as  soon  as  he 
has  adjusted  his  accounts  with  the  Company.  Whenever  at 
Madras,  Lawrence  is  to  have  a  seat  and  vote  in  the  Council,  sitting 
on  the  President's  left  hand  and  signing  next  after  the  Second, 
and  in  the  Second's  absence  he  is  to  sit  on  the  President's  right  and 
sign  next  after  him,  but  he  is  never  to  succeed  to  the  chair.  A 
Council  of  five  persons  to  be  appointed  for  Fort  St.  David,  with 
Cockell  as  Deputy  Governor  and  a  Second  selected  from  the  Coun- 
cillors named  above.  When  Cockell  can  be  spared  from  Fort  St. 
David,  he  should  take  his  seat  in  Council  at  Madras.  His  salary, 
etc.,  are  to  be  the  same  as  were  paid  to  the  Deputy  Governor  before 
the  capture  of  Madras. 

Lawrence  is  appointed  Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the  Company's 
forces  in  India,  commanding  (subject  to  the  President  and  Council's 
orders)  in  whatever  presidency  he  may  chance  to  be.  He  is  to 
receive  a  salary  of  £500  a  year,  with  £250  a  year  in  lieu  of  diet- 
money,  servants,  horses,  etc.,  beginning  from  his  arrival  in  India. 
He  will  also  be  allowed  all  expenses  incurred  in  military  operations 
and  in  travelling  from  place  to  place.  His  duties  are  to  see  that 
the  troops  are  disciplined  and  always  ready  for  service,  to  command 
in  person  such  part  of  the  forces  as  may  be  necessary,  and  to  sub- 
mit to  the  Council  such  plans  and  explanations  as  may  enable 
them  to  decide  regarding  military  operations.  He  shall  be  entirely 
governed  by  the  orders  he  shall  receive  in  writing  from  the 
Company  or  from  the  Council,  serve  the  Company  to  the  utmost  of 
his  skill,  and  advise  the  Council  of  all  that  shall  occur  to  him 
for  the  Company's  advantage.* 

William  Kinneer,  '  an  able  and  experienced  officer,'  entertained 
as  Major  of  the  Madras  troops.  To  be  Third  in  Council,  to  have 
the  command  and  clothing  of  one  company,  with  a  salary  of  £250 
a  year  with  allowances  for  diet,  servants  and  palankin  as  Third  of 
Council.     He  is  not  to  be  embarrassed  with  civil  affairs  or  have 


*  A  copy  of  Lawrence's  commission  forms    pp.   172-173    of   Public  Despatches  from 
England,  vol.  55. 


158  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

any  additional  pay  "for  regulating  or  commanding  the  Artillery 
company.  George  Patterson,  now  sent  out,  is  to  succeed  to  the 
first  Ensign's  vacancy  and  meantime  to  draw  Ensign's  pay.  Send 
as  many  recruits  as  the  ship  can  carry  and  will  send  more  by 
each  ship.  Have  contracted  for  two  companies  of  140  men  each 
to  be  raised  in  the  Swiss  Protestant  cantons;  they  are  to  arrive  in 
time  to  embark  on  the  ships  that  will  sail  at  the  end  of  November.* 
As  the  Madras  Council  was  fixed  before  Percival's  readmission 
into  the  service,  it  would  not  be  fair  to  remove  one  of  the  Council- 
lors in  order  to  make  room  for  him  ;  but  he  may  be  continued  in 
the  service  and  promoted  according  to  his  standing  if  he  behaves 
well.  If  any  one  refuses  to  serve  at  Fort  St.  David  or  elsewhere, 
he  shall  be  considered  to  have  resigned,  obliged  to  settle  his 
account  with  the  Company,  and  sent  home.  Salaries  and  allow- 
ances of  covenanted  servants  are  to  be  on  the  same  scale  as  before 
the  loss  of  Madras.  The  gratuity  of  £50  a  year  was  granted  to  Croke 
for  particular  services  and  not  as  Second  of  Fort  St.  David;  it 
should  not  have  been  granted  to  Richard  Starke  as  Second  at  Fort 
St.  George.  Timothy  Tullie,  writer  at  Madras,  may  be  allowed 
(according  to  his  father's  request)  to  reside  at  Madras  so  long  as 
that  is  consistent  with  his  duty.  Approve  the  method  taken  of 
late  of  appointing  Committees  to  inquire  into  and  state  facts. 
Repeat  the  orders  of  January  27,  1748,  regarding  the  appointment 
of  a  Committee  of  Treasury  to  take  charge  of  the  cash,  bullion,  etc., 
as  these  have  not  yet  been  executed.  Disapprove  the  old 
system  under  which  the  Import  Warehouse-keeper  had  charge  of 
the  bullion  and  rupees.  Require  an  annual  statement  of  the 
salaries  and  allowances  of  all  civil  and  military  servants.  Send 
copies  of  the  Act  for  reforming  the  Calendar.  Require  all  original 
papers  and  information  relating  to  the  accounts  with  His  Majesty's 
Squadrons  and  forces  in  India.  10  bonds  (all  dated  earlier  than 
September  1746)  for  money  lent  to  the  Company  at  Madras  may 
be  paid  off;   they   amount   to   81,300   Pags.  and  39,000   Arcot   Rs. 


*  Copy  of  the  Company's  agreement  with  Sir  Luke  Schaub  and  Jasper  Sellon,  dated 
July  17,  1751,  forms  pp.  174-176  of  Public  Despatches  from  England,  vol.  55.  The 
men  to  be  between  20  and  35,  Protestants  ;  the  Companies  to  consist  of  I  captain,  2 
lieutenants,  I  ensign,  6  sergeants,  6  corporals,  1  drum-major,  2  drummers,  I  fife  and 
120  privates,  each  ;  each  officer  and  soldier  to  contract  to  serve  for  7  years  from  arrival 
in  India;  the  Companies  to  reach  Gravesend  before  November  30,  1751  ;  the  captains 
to  receive  £j  levy -money  for  every  man  raised  ;  the  captains  to  have  the  clothing  of 
their  Companies,  for  which  2d.  per  diem  shall  be  deducted  from  the  pay  of  each  man  ; 
bounty  of  ^ioto  be  paid  for  re-enlistment  for  5  years  at  the  termination  of  seven  years' 
service  ;  free  passage  home  to  be  provided  at  the  end  of  7  or  12  years,  etc. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1751-1752  159 

Permission  granted  to  form  another  company  of  Artillery ;  the 
officers  must  be  such  as  Robins  considers  qualified.  Will  comply 
with  Robins's  indent  for  light  cannon,  mortars,  etc. 

Supplement :  The  lawyers  all  agree  that  the  capture  of  Madras 
by  the  French  put  an  end  to  the  Mayor's  Court.  No  attempt  to  be 
made  to  revive  it  till  a  new  Charter  has  been  obtained.  The  Court 
of  Quarter  Sessions  however,  consisting  of  the  President  and  the 
five  senior  Members  of  Council,  is  deemed  still  to  be  in  existence. 
A  Sheriff  should  therefore  be  appointed  and  Sessions  held. 
Lawrence's  commission  in  no  way  reduces  the  powers  granted  to 
Robins.  Have  taken  up  3  more  ships,  one  of  which  will  bring 
a  cargo  of  slaves  from  Madagascar  to  Madras. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India  House.    August  23,  1751.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  55,  p.  43  (Original  I  p.)] 

The  existence  of  a  Roman  Catholic  Church  in  the  heart  of  an 
English  settlement  is  so  inconvenient,  that  the  Portuguese  Church 
in  the  White  Town  is  to  be  pulled  down  at  once,  and  not  allowed 
to  stand  on  pretence  of  giving  it  to  the  Danish  Missionaries  or  of 
its  use  as  a  store-house  or  otherwise. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India  House.  November  14,  175 1.  [Public  Despatches 
from  England,  Vol.  55,  pp.  44 — 46  (Original  3  pp.)] 

Now  despatch  the  Delawar  to  carry  slaves  from  Madagascar  to 
the  Coast.  The  Commander  Abraham  Dominicus,  and  the  Chief 
Mate,  Thomas  Winter,  appointed  agents*  for  the  purchase  of  600 
slaves  or  more.  They  are  to  receive  205.  for  every  slave  delivered, 
two-thirds  to  the  Commander  and  one-third  to  the  Mate  ;  but  in 
case  either  should  die  before  the  commission  is  executed,  the 
Company  will  decide  what  may  be  a  fair  division.  The  agents  are 
to  deliver  to  the  President,  etc.,  all  their  slaves,  the  remains  of 
the  cargo  sent  from  England,  and  copies  of  their  accounts  and 
diaries,   to  be  forwarded   with    remarks    to    the   Company.     The 


*  A  copy  of  their  instructions  occurs  at  pp.  169-171  of  Public  Despatches  from  England, 
vol.  55.  One-third  of  the  slaves  to  be  girls  and  women  between  14  and  18 ;  not  to 
remain  in  Madagascar  more  than  3  months  unless  the  purchase  of  slaves  has  not  been 
completed  and  the  crew  is  in  good  health  ;  they  are  furnished  with  extracts  and  copies 
of  papers  relating  to  former  voyages  ;  to  treat  the  natives  civilly  and  use  the  slaves 
with  humanity,  but  to  be  watchful  against  a  surprise;  and  to  keep  an  exact  diary 
and  accounts,  etc. 


K 


160  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Surgeon  is  to  receive  $s.  a  head  for  each  slave  delivered  if  he 
appears  to  have  taken  good  care  of  them.  As  many  slaves  as 
possible  are  to  be  sent  to  Sumatra.  If  the  Swallow's  Madagascar 
cargo  and  a  good  part  of  the  Delawar's  should  remain  undisposed 
of,  the  Delawar  may  be  sent  back  to  Madagascar  if  more  slaves 
are  needed.  They  are  to  be  treated  with  more  care  than  those 
sent  by  the  Swallow  who  were  neglected  and  suffered  in  their 
health.  Are  convinced  that  they  may  be  of  great  use  as'coffrees 
or  as  boatmen,  labourers,  etc.  A  Committee  to  be  appointed  to 
consider  how  best  to  employ  and  regulate  them.  Consider  that 
they  should  all  be  lodged  together  under  the  care  of  a  trusty 
person,  that  the  Military  should  be  allowed  no  intercourse  with 
them,  that  a  reasonable  diet  and  clothing  should  be  fixed  for  them, 
and  that  when  sick  they  should  be  attended  by  the  Surgeons  as 
the  Military  are.     Send  100  tons  of  lead  by  this  ship. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India  House.    November  22,  175 1.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol  55,  pp.  47 — 49  (Original  3  pp.)] 

Of  the  ships  taken  up,  4  are  destined  for  the  Coast  and  China, 
7  for  the  Coast  and  Bay,  and  I  for  Madagascar  and  the  Coast. 
The  Coast  and  China  ships  are  under  despatch.  The  Coast 
and  Bay  ships  will  sail  early  in  January.  The  Oxford  (now  about  to 
sail)  will  call  at  Madeira  for  300  pipes  of  wine,  of  which  150  are 
destined  for  Madras  and  the  rest  for  Bengal.  20  pipes  are  allowed 
on  the  ship's  privilege.  The  first  company  of  Swiss  is  commanded 
by  Captain  John  Chabbert,  the  second  by  Captain  John  Henry 
Schaub.  A  detachment  is  now  embarked,  and  the  Commander  of 
the  ship  has  been  enjoined  to  treat  both  officers  and  privates  with 
the  utmost  humanity.  A  particular  inquiry  is  to  be  made  into  his 
conduct  in  this  respect.  The  same  should  be  done  regarding  each 
party  of  Swiss  sent  out. 

DESPATCH  FROM   THE     COMPANY  TO  THOMAS     SAUNDERS,  ETC. 

East  India  House.    December  6,  1751.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  55,  pp.  50— 55  (Original  6  pp. J] 

Despatch  of  shipping.  The  Rhoda,  Edgecote,  Prince  of  Wales, 
and  Drake,  now  sail  for  the  Coast  and  China.  The  Protector,  built 
by  the  Company  for  service  on  the  Malabar  Coast,  will  be  ready 
to  sail  early  in  January  with  treasure  for  Madras.  Name  the 
supercargoes  for  China.     Send  by  these  ships  for  the  Coast  a  large 


CALENDAR  FOR  1751-1752  161 

quantity  of  treasure,  woollen  goods,  etc.  The  ships  are  to  be  sent 
on  to  Canton  with  the  least  possible  delay.  The  Coast  and  Bay 
ships  will  call  to  get  the  Bengal  treasure  coined  and  to  land  Military 
and  a  few  consignments — mostly  private  trade.  Arrangements 
should  be  made  to  have  rupees  ready  to  put  aboard  the  ships  for 
the  Bay  so  that  they  may  not  be  long  detained.  Send  3  cases  of 
English  and  I  of  Dutch  velvet ;  desire  to  know  which  sells  best, 
Have  appointed  as  writers  : — George  Dolben,  John  Percival,  Claud 
Russell,  Joseph  Sommers,  and  John  Smith.  Samuel  Staveley  and 
Thomas  Colefax  appointed  Chaplains  on  the  Coast.  Send  further 
detachments  of  Swiss.  The  privates  have  not  yet  been  allotted  to 
their  respective  companies  ;  Chabbert  and  Schaub  are  to  decide 
this  as  the  detachments  arrive  with  the  advice  of  the  Major.  The 
pay  of  officers  and  men  is  exactly  the  same  as  that  of  the  other 
Europeans  in  the  Company's  service.  Each  Captain  has  the  privi- 
lege of  naming  the  subalterns  in  his  Company,  who  are  afterwards 
to  succeed  according  to  seniority  unless  there  is  reason  to  the 
contrary.  Enquiry  into  their  treatment  on  the  outward  voyage. 
Need  of  preserving  harmony  between  the  Swiss  and  other  forces  ; 
No  distinction  is  to  be  made  between  them,  and  their  uniform  is 
to  be  exactly  the  same.  The  barracks  are  to  be  extended  so  as  to 
accommodate  the  new  troops. 


Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc., 
Committee.  East  India  House.  December  6, 1751.  [Letter 

Book,  Vol.  28,  pp.  260-261.  (India  Office  transcript.)] 
Hope  that  arrangements  have  been  made  for  establishing  a 
settlement  on  the  Negrais.  David  Hunter,  late  Deputy  Governor 
of  St.  Helena,  is  appointed  Chief  of  this  new  settlement  and  sails 
to  Fort  Marlborough  on  the  Exeter,  whence  he  will  proceed  to  take 
charge,  should  a  settlement  have  actually  been  made.  Thomas 
Combes  of  the  Council  at  Fort  Marlborough,  is  to  be  Second  in  the 
Negrais,  with  succession  to  Huntt-r.  Cannot  fix  their  salaries 
until  the  Company  knows  how  the  measure  has  progressed. 
Meanwhile  they  are  to  be  maintained  at  the  Company's  expense 
and  all  due  respect  paid  to  him.  If  necessary  a  vessel  should  be 
sent  to  carry  them  from  Fort  Marlborough  to  the  Negrais.  In  case 
of  any  accident  befalling  the  Durrington  on  which  Cockel  and 
Lawrence  sail,  Saunders  is  to  form  a  Committee  with  one  or  two  of 
his  Council  and  Robins  to  carry  out  the  orders  regarding  the 
Negrais.  Measures  should  be  taken  to  secure  the  Company's 
21 


162  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

former  possessions  and  privileges  in  Pegu,  as  the  Negrais  settle- 
ment will  facilitate  trade  with  that  country. 

DESPATCH    FROM  THE  COMPANY    TO   THOMAS  SAUNDERS,  ETC., 

East  India  House.    December  24,  175 1.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  55,  pp.  56-57  (Original  2  pp.)] 

Now  despatch  the  Protector  (Captain  Francis  Cheyne),  built  to 
defend  the  trade  on  the  Malabar  coast  instead  of  detaining  one  of 
the  chartered  vessels  as  '  a  Commodore  ship.'  She  is  to  land  100 
chests  of  bullion  at  Madras  and  then  proceed  to  Bombay.  Under 
no  circumstances  is  she  to  take  in  goods  of  any  sort,  so  that  she 
may  always  be  ready  for  action.  Her  bullion  should  be  coined  at 
once  into  rupees  to  replace  the  bullion  on  the  Coast  and  Bay  ships. 
Cheyne  will  lay  his  instructions  before  the  Council  if  necessary. 
He  should  be  furnished  with  what  supplies  he  needs,  and  an 
account  of  them  sent  to  Bengal. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc., 
East  India  House.    January  8,  1752.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  55,  pp.  58 — 71  (Original  14  pp.)] 

The  despatch  of  shipping.  Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  despatch 
dated  February  24,  1751.  Now  despatch  the  Coast  and  Bay  ships — 
Bombay  Castle,  Admiral  Vernon,  Chesterfield,  Colchester  and  Godolphin, 
to  be  sent  on  with  the  utmost  expedition.  If  any  of  these  can  be 
despatched  home  more  quickly  by  not  sending  them  on  to  Bengal, 
they  may  be  detained  on  the  Coast ;  but  in  that  case  their  cargoes 
must  be  duly  forwarded.  As  the  large  consignments  sent  will 
enable  large  investments  to  be  made,  ships  must  be  returned  in 
the  season  of  their  arrival.  If  any  are  detained,  the  impossi- 
bility of  despatching  them  must  be  made  very  clear  to  the 
Company.  Believe  ships'  officers  carry  out  clandestinely  large 
quantities  of  goods — especially  woollens;  an  exact  account  of  all 
private  trade  landed  on  the  Coast  is  to  be  taken  and  sent  home ; 
all  unlicensed  goods  are  to  be  confiscated,  and  half  the  value  (less 
any  law  or  other  charges)  shall  be  given  to  any  person  discovering 
the  same.  Rate  of  pay  on  the  Country  shipping  at  Sumatra. 
Should  there  be  absolute  necessity  for  detaining  two  ships  in  India, 
the  Durrington  and  Bombay  Castle  should  be  chosen-  To  check  the 
great  quantity  of  private  trade  carried  by  Company's  ships  on 
Country  voyages,  no  private  trade  should  be  put  on  board  till  the 
full  charterparty  tonnage  is  laded,  where  the  voyage  is  on  the 
Company's  account. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1751  1752  163 

In  order  to  encourage  the  woollen  trade,  have  sent  more  woollens 
than  were  indented  for  ;  these  and  all  other  goods  to  be  sold  at 
public  outcry.  May  detain  such  part  of  the  bullion  now  sent  as  is 
absolutely  required  on  the  Coast.  The  rupees  and  pagodas  coined 
at  Fort  St.  David  fall  short  of  the  proper  standard ;  an  enquiry 
ordered.  Complain  of  continued  defects  in  the  store  accounts. 
Comply  with  indents  for  stores  ;  but  cordage,  masts,  yards,  etc., 
take  up  so  much  space  that  the  Company  cannot  send  as  valuable 
consignments  as  is  desired;  country  masts  and  cordage  are  to  be 
used  as  largely  as  possible,  and  nothing  of  this  sort  should  be 
indented  for  for  sale. 

Need  of  a  large  investment  in  order  to  lade  home  all  the  ships 
in  India;  all  sorts  of  low-priced  piece-goods  suitable  for  Europe 
should  be  provided.  Trust  that  the  death  of  Muzaffar  Jang  has 
facilitated  the  investment. 

Trust  that  the  dissensions  among  the  murderers  of  Nasir  Jang, 
and  the  death  of  Muzaffar  Jang,  will  convince  the  Country  powers 
that  the  French  seek  nothing  but  their  own  interests  to  the  ruin  of 
the  country.  Hope  that  all  advantage  has  been  taken  of  this  check 
to  the  French  schemes.  In  case  the  French  still  continue  their 
encroachments,  regular  protests  are  to  be  made  against  them  and 
full  reports  sent  home. 

Orders  have  been  given  in  Holland  for  the  punishment  of  those 
responsible  for  the  massacre  off  Sumatra  of  the  Chinese  under 
English  protection  ;  and  the  Dutch  claims  are  now  under  discussion 
between  His  Britannic  Majesty  and  the  States-General. 

Nothing  further  is  to  be  paid  the  Commissaries  who  received 
Madras  from  the  French.  Every  person  taking  his  passage  home 
on  a  Company's  ship  is  to  pay  £12,  which  the  Company  will  subse- 
quently remit  if  it  sees  proper.  The  1,000  Pags.  presented  to 
Andrews,  Captain  of  the  Bombay  detachment,  on  his  departure 
from  the  Coast,  was  too  large  to  have  been  made  without  the  Com- 
pany's approval.  The  Troop  of  horse  is  so  expensive  that  Lawrence, 
Kinneer  and  Robins  must  certify  the  utility  of  those  now  in  service. 
As  Samuel  Harrison  has  gone  as  supercargo  on  a  Coast  and  China 
ship,  Council  has  been  able  to  demand  what  he  owes  the  Church 
stock  ;  the  Company  will  also  endeavour  to  recover  it,  but  proper 
documents  must  be  sent.  Those  responsible  for  the  late  arrival  of 
books,  etc.,  from  subordinate  settlements  must  be  reported  to  the 
Company  for  punishment.  Any  papers  discovered  relating  to 
Morse,  etc.'s  accounts  must  be  sent  home  with  remarks.  Cannot 
admit  that  the  Company  should  bear  the  loss  of  goods  which  were 


164  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

the  property  of  merchants  when  Madras  was  taken ;  the  full 
amounts  really  due  must  be  recovered  fromTelisinga  Chetti,  Muttu 
Kumarappa  Chetti,  Sunku  Venkatarama  Chetti,  Ambalattadi 
Chetti,  Gandavidi  Venkatarama  and  Nalla  Chetti,  as  well  as  any 
other  sums  owed  to  the  Company  when  Madras  was  captured. 
The  account  of  His  Majesty's  stores  delivered  at  Madras  by 
Commodore  Lisle  has  not  been  received  and  must  be  forwarded. 

Have  resolved  that  all  persons  permitted  to  proceed  to  India 
shall  give  security  in  £200,  and  that  the  masters  of  servants  allowed 
to  go  to  India  shall  give  their  bond  for  £200,  to  indemnify  the 
Company  against  any  expense  that  may  be  incurred  for  their 
support.  Free  merchants  must  give  security  for  good  conduct  for 
£2,000.  Staveley  and  Colefax,  who  will  sail  this  season,  have 
received  an  advance  of  £50  each.  Have  transferred  Samuel  Ardley 
and  William  Norris,  factors  in  Sumatra,  to  the  Coast  with  their 
original  standing— Ardley  from  April  28  and  Norris  from 
September  22,  1749.  Have  appointed  as  factors  on  the  Coast : — 
Josias  Dupre,  John  Browning,  James  Alexander,  John  Smith, 
John  Lewin  Smith,  Andrew  Newton,  Samuel  Tatham,  Charles 
Saunders  and  Daniel  Morse.  When  Timothy  Tullie  has  served 
his  five  years  as  writer,  he  is  to  be  ranked  next  above  Josias  Dupre, 
Richard  Brickenden  and  Henry  Eustace  Johnson,  appointed  writers 
last  year,  but  did  not  sail,  are  to  be  ranked  next  above  the  writers 
of  this  year,  who  are :— John  Smith,  John  Whitehill,  Joseph 
Sommers,  Claud  Russell,  George  Dolben,  John  Percival,  and 
Thomas  Rumbold.  These  factors  and  writers  sail  by  the  present 
ships.  Disallow  pensions  granted  to  Mrs.  Graham  and  Mrs. 
Mansell,  who  if  in  necessitous  circumstances  must  be  sent  home  at 
the  Company's  expense.  Desire  to  know  the  Council's  opinion  of 
the  age,  services,  family  and  circumstances  of  Captain  de  Morgan, 
and  why  he  was  granted  a  pension  so  large  as  25  Pags.  a  month. 
The  Surgeons  are  said  not  to  attend  properly  the  sick  in  hospital 
and  to  take  the  soldiers'  pay  ;  in  future  they  are  to  attend  regularly 
instead  of  one  taking  whole  charge  for  a  month,  and  the  soldiers 
are  to  be  stopped  no  more  than  what  they  usually  pay  for  diet. 
One  of  Council  is  periodically  to  inspect  the  hospital ;  the  Major  is 
to  do  the  same,  and  regular  hospital  returns  are  to  be  sent  home 
every  year  ;  if  ignorant  or  careless  the  Surgeons  are  to  be  dismissed. 
The  two  Swiss  companies  will  be  completed  to  full  strength  next 
season.  The  collection  of  the  Company's  Standing  Orders  is  to 
be  completed  and  a  copy  sent  home. 

Sumatra  affairs. 


CALENDAR   FOR    t7§I-l?$2  I65 

Supplement:  Approve  the  confiscation  of  the  houses  of  those 
who  remained  at  Madras  under  the  protection  of  the  French,  of  the 
resolution  that  Roman  Catholics  and  Armenians  should  sell  their 
houses  in  the  White  Town,  and  of  the  Roman  Catholic  priests 
being  dispossessed  of  their  Churches  at  Cuddalore  and  in  and 
about  Fort  St.  George.  The  Church  at  Cuddalore  and  that  in  the 
country  near  Madras  should  be  given  to  the  Missionaries  of  the 
Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  '  during  our  pleasure  ' 
and  tn*ey  may  also  be  given  a  donation  not  exceeding  500  Pags. 

John  Taylor,  who  was  a  Surgeon  in  Barnett's  Squadron,  is 
allowed  to  proceed  to  India  and  may  be  employed  as  Surgeon 
wherever  needed.  Have  lost  considerably  by  the  depreciation  of 
silver  on  the  Coasti  by  which  means  the  shroffs  may  secure  im- 
proper profits.  Orders  to  ascertain  the  real  ratio  of  gold  and 
silver.  The  French  in  their  contracts  value  360  Rs.  per  100  Star 
Pags.  thus  avoiding  loss  by  any  variation.  In  order  to  avoid  the 
risk  of  sending  out  bullion,  bills  of  exchange  may  be  granted  in 
future  to  all  persons  at  the  rate  hitherto  allowed  to  covenanted 
servants  only — 75.  Sd.  per  pagoda.  Have  entertained  John  Cassell 
as  Sergeant  Bombardier  of  the  Train.  He  has  been  for  some  years 
at  the  Woolwich  Academy,  and  will  be  useful  to  Robins.  17  iron 
guns  and  400  shot  are  laded  on  the  Chesterfield  instead  of  the  Drake. 


THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES,  1752-1753. 


Letter  from  Stringer  Lawrence  to  the  Company. 
Trichinopoly.  June  ii,  1752.  Received  December  27, 
1752.  [The  French  in  India,  Vol.  2,  pp.  71— 75-  (India  Office 
transcript.)] 
Was  unable  to  write  from  the  Cape  as  he  was  suffering  from  a 
fit  of  asthma.  Does  not  fear  its  return  in  India.  Landed  at  Fort 
St.  David  on  March  14;  and  on  the  17th  marched  thence  with  400 
Europeans  and  1,000  sepoys  whom  '  Clive  had  just  brought  from 
Arcott  where  the  success  he  had  met  with  had  given  a  surprizing 
turn  to  the  Nabob's  affairs.'  Lawrence  convoyed  stores,  etc. 
Marched  unmolested  as  far  as  Koyiladi  where  the  French  can- 
nonaded from  an  entrenchment  they  had  thrown  up.  Lawrence 
returned  their  fire,  but  as  they  did  not  advance  pushed  on.  Next 
day  the  French  drew  out  their  whole  force  and  Lawrence  had  to 
engage  them  in  order  that  his  baggage  might  get  safe  to  camp.  •. 
In  the  cannonade  the  English  suffered  little  ;  but  the  French  were 
driven  into  a  hollow  way,  on  which  Lawrence  drew  off  his  people 
who  were  much  fatigued  with  their  long  march.  Joined  the  camp 
that  night.  The  enemy  lost  300  horse  and  'Allum  Khan,  a  man  of 
great  interest.'  Chunda  Sahib  was  quickly  forced  to  raise  the 
siege  and  to  retire  to  the  Srirangam  pagoda.  We  so  effectually 
blockaded  it  by  seizing  all  the  strongholds  round  that  in  less 
than  2  months,  his  army  of  30,000  men  were  dispersed  or  destroyed, 
and  he  himself  with  the  French  and  a  few  horse  and  sepoys  were 
in  a  miserable  condition.  The  Nawab  summoned  them  to  surrender. 
After  Chunda  Sahib  had  surrendered  to  Manoji,  the  rest  surren- 
dered on  June  3,  on  condition  that  the  officers  should  go  to 
Pondichery  on  parole  never  to  serve  against  the  Nawab  or  his 
allies,  and  that  the  soldiers  should  be  kept  prisoners  till  they  could 
be  shipped  to  Europe.  '  As  the  allies  could  not  agree  who  should 
keep  Chunda,  to  end  the  dispute,  his  head  was  cut  off;  and  we 
shall  march  directly  for  Arcott,  since  there  is  not  a  man  to  oppose 
us.'  '  So  compleat  a  victory  with  so  little  loss  is  surprizing,  for 
though  the  enemy  were  superiour  to  us  when    I  arrived,   yet  we 


CALENDAR   FOR   1 752-1753  i67 

never  could  bring  them  to  a  general  engagement  notwithstanding 
it  was  so  much  their  interest.  The  whole  business  was  done  in  a 
few  sieges  and  some  skirmishing,'  so  that  in  taking  nearly  1,000 
European  prisoners,  the  English  had  not  50  men  killed.  Dupleix 
is  proposing  peace  which  the  Nawab  will  accept  provided  the 
English  are  satisfied.  '  I  am  perswaded  nothing  but  the  keeping 
up  a  good  force  in  India  will  secure  a  lasting  peace  here,'  and  the 
Nawab  is  willing  to  make  over  a  sufficient  tract  of  country  to  make 
good  their  cost.  As  soon  as  the  Coast  is  settled,  Lawrence  intends 
to  go  to  Bengal.     Much  regrets  the  loss  of  Robins. 

abstract  of  despatch  from  thomas  saunders,  etc.,  to 
the  Company.  Fort  St.  George.  July  5, 1752.  Received, 

DECEMBER  27,  1752.     [Coast  and  Bay  Abstracts,  Letters  Received, 
Vol.  5,  pp.  340 — 347.     (India  Office  transcript.)] 

Cockell,  Lawrence,  Kinneer,  Pattison  and  Repington  arrived  by 
the  Durrington  on  March  14.  Re-established  the  Presidency  at 
Fort  St.  George  on  April  5. 

This  goes  by  the  Swallow  sloop.  Speke,  her  Captain,  has  been 
zealous  in  the  Company's  affairs  and  waited  in  order  to  bring  news 
of  the  issue  of  the  struggle  on  the  Coast.  Shipping  news.  Goods 
for  China  market  are  not  procurable.  'Silver  will  answer  there  near 
equally  to  any  article  purchaseable  here.'  The  Godolphin  arrived 
here  on  June  12  with  bullion  and  rupees,  amounting  to  199,909 
Pags.  The  Colchester  struck  on  a  sea  reef  in  passing  the  roads  but 
is  reported  undamaged.  The  Protector  put  in  with  her  spars 
damaged  and  when  repaired  will  be  despatched  to  Bombay. 
Bombay  has  reported  that  '  Tellicherry  was  still  engagd  against 
the  Prince  of  Collastria,  openly  assisted  by  the  French.'  Landing 
of  gunpowder  consigned  by  the  Kent.  '  Coffrees  so  serviceable, 
the  Swallow,  if  the  Captain  had  not  remonstrated  against  it,  would 
have  been  returned  to  Madagascar  for  more.  The  loss  of  so  many 
was  not  from  want  of  care  on  their  parts,  but  the  rainy  season 
and  improper  physick  from  black  doctors.'  '  A  ship  will  be 
dispatched  in  September.  Cannot  say  more  as  to  tonnage.  Bengal 
write  they  cannot  advise  how  many  ships  they  may  provide  for. 
Nothing  to  be  expected  in  aid  from  Tellicherry.' 

Short  deliveries  on  several  ships  seem  due  to  difference  in 
the  weights  used.  Request  a  standard  set  of  weights.  Forward 
the  Assaymaster's  explanation  of  differences  in  the  rupees. 
'  Single  rupees  may  differ  but  care  is  taken   1,000  do  answer  the 


168  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

full  weight.'  '  Broadcloth.-— Little  of  what  sold  has  from  the 
unsettled  stated  of  the  country  been  taken  out  of  the  werehouse. 
All  endeavours  shall  be  usd  to  dispose  of  the  large  consignments  of 
it.  Fear  part  will  remain  on  hand  and  the  price  fall.  Observe  the 
market  hath  not  ever  taken  off  more  than  indented  for.'  Aqua 
fortis  on  the  Prince  of  Wales,  being  badly  packed,  was  thrown 
overboard.  Send  price  current  of  gold  and  silver.  '  Madras 
having  been  the  magazine,  the  few  stores  at  Fort  St.  David  will 
soon  be  removed  to  it.'  '  Coral.,  etc.,  traders  submit  whether  they 
should  not  make  returns  within  the  limited  time,  believing  the 
advantage  of  the  Bengal  exchange  has  drawn  sums  thither  and 
that  others  are  employed  in  the  country.  This  requires  a  check. 
The  manifests  and  returns  shall  be  examined  and  particulars  sent 
in  September.' 

Merchants'  balances  at  Fort  St.  David  have  been  reduced  within 
the  permitted  limit.  Northern  factories  have  been  supplyd  to 
the  utmost ;  a  further  quantity  of  Madrass  pagodas  are  procuring 
for  them.  Are  advisd  tolerable  investiments  will  be  made  there.' 
'  Some  Armenians  have  imported  cloth  of  the  Company's  sortment 
from  thence.  This  has  been  taken  into  warehouse  and  the 
practice  of  it  forbid  on  pain  of  confiscation,'  '  The  investment 
will  probably  this  year  equal  that  of  last.  It  is  much  affected  by 
the  War  and  can't  be  ascertained  in  the  present  unsettled  state-' 
'  Brown  cloth. — Necessity  only  will  ever  oblige  them  to  send  any.' 

Brohier  has  arrived  at  Madras,  and  surveyed  the  works.  His 
report  is  enclosed.  Works  at  Fort  St.  David  are  progressing. 
'  Materials  are  purchasd  at  the  first  and  cheapest  rate  under 
Mr.  Brohier's  inspection.  No  workmen  are  paid  without  his  check. 
A  contract  made  with  Mr.  Morse  before  their  arrival  for  furnishing 
materials  is  cancelled,  but  offerd  to  continue  his  allowance  to 
oversee  the  works.'  '  Resident  at  Ingeram  has  for  its  security 
been  at  some  expense,  not 'extraordinary.'  'Vizagapatam  sufferd 
considerably  by  a  storm  on  the  breaking  up  of  the  monsoon. 
Mr.  Brohier  when  at  leisure  will  go  and  survey.  No  expense,  but 
what  shall  be  requisite  for  preserving  effects  there,  shall  for  the 
present  be  incurrd.' 

'  Barracks. — Being  at  a  loss  for  them,  the  hospital  usd  as  such 
on  arrival  of  the  recruits  and  houses  hird  in  thepettah  for  the  sick. 
Erecting  new  barracks  will  be  deferrd  till  hear  how  the  plan  now 
sent  is  approvd  of.'  The  Portuguese  church  has  been  pulled  down. 
Military  officers  could  have  quarters  in  the  square  which  adjoined 
that  church.     '  Danish  missionarys  after  this  dispatch  shall  have 


CALENDAR  FOR  1752-1753  169 

the  Church  at  Viparee  and  at  a  proper  time  be  shown  the 
generous  indulgence  orderd.'  Have  confiscated  the  houses  of 
Carvalho,  Baillieu,  Jeronimo  and  Melong,  who  have  lived  under  the 
French  ever  since  the  loss  of  Madras.  '  Farms  at  Fort  St.  David 
in  general. — Their  rents  doubled.'  'Farms  at  Madrass  on  the 
footing  as  formerly  except  Beetle  and  Tobacco.  They  yield  200 
Pags.  less.  It  is  esteemd  they  are  well  disposd  of,  the  warlike 
uncertain  posture  being  considerd.'  Starke,  Wynch  and  Smith 
have  been  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  damages  done  by  plunder, 
etc.,  in  the  Poonamallee  country.  The  proximity  of  St.  Thome 
encourages  smuggling.  Have  prohibited  the  import  of  vessels 
there.  'Fortifications. — Assessing  the  inhabitants  for  them,  it  is 
submitted,  as  the  place  has  not  recoverd  itself,  may  discourage  a 
resort  of  merchants  and  at  this  season  be  prejudicial.' 

'  Messrs.  Saunders,  Cockell  and  Lawrence  are  a  Committee  for 
Country  government.  Mr.  Lawrence  arriving,  marched  with  a 
detachment  to  Trichinopoly,  took  the  comand  of  the  whole  Army 
and  is  still  in  the  field.'  Saunders,  Starke  and  Powney  formed  the 
Committee  of  Treasury.  '  Major  Kinneer  comands  in  garrison, 
Mr.  Starke,  4th  of  Council  but  2nd  on  the  spot,  the  Council  were  of 
opinion,  should  rank  so,  as  the  Major  was  appointed  always  to 
stand  3rd.  Mr.  Kinneer  judging  he  should  have  the  superiority  ot 
Starke  now  encloses  a  letter  thereon.'  '  Vacancies  in  Council 
supplyed  by  Messrs.  Cooke  and  Smith.'  Thomas  Cooke  is  ill  and 
cannot  yet  proceed  to  his  station  as  Second  at  Fort  St.  David. 
4  Mr.  Prince  resigning  went  home  per  Warwick.'  Pigot  has  gone 
to  Vizagapatam.  Pybus  is  Resident  at  Devikottai.  '  Mr.  William 
Percival  accepting  the  service  is  made  Upper  Searcher  at  the  Sea 
Gate.'  '  Messrs.  Dupre,  Browning  and  Newton,  factors ;  and 
Messrs.  Brickenden,  Sommers,  Dolben,  Russel  and  Rumbohd, 
writers,  are  arrivd  and  will  be  employd  suitable  to  their  capacitys.' 
Ardley  and  Norris  will  be  ordered  to  Madras.  '  Eleven  factors 
ranking  this  year  above  the  writers  sent  last  is  a  very  particular 
hardship  as  their  behaviour  has  been  very  satisfactory,  sober  and 
diligent.'  '  Recruits  arrivd  healthy,  and  passengers  in  general 
allow  the  Captains  have  treated  them  handsomely.'  '  Some  of  the 
Swiss  not  arrivd,  but  Captains  Chabbert  and  Schaub,  Lieutenants 
Wagner,  Gaup,  D'Beck,  and  Ensign  Provost,  are  come.'  '  Swiss. — 
Many  of  them  are  Catholicks,  this  the  officers  were  ignorant  of.  13 
have  deserted  and  expect  more  will.  Recourse  had  to  general 
courts-martial    for    preventing    it    with    the    greatest    humanity. 


170  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Captain  Chabbert  has  protested  against  infringement  of  privileges 
claimd  by  Swiss  in  foreign  service.  These  being  contrary  to 
orders  shall  suspend  complying  therewith  till  directions  are 
received.  They  will  be  usd  as  the  Company's  own  troops  and  the 
Captains  fill  up  vacancys  in  their  companies.'  '  Major  visits 
hospital  monthly  and  officer  weekly.  Sick  have  wholesome  diet, 
and  pay  only  what  usual.  The  Steward  provides  it.  Doctors  not 
interfering  therein,  a  Counseller  shall  be  added.'  '  Artillery 
companys. — Will  endeavour  to  compleatthe  two,  of  the  recruits  sent 
them-'  '  Mr.  Palk  hearing  of  Mr.  Swynfen's  death  and  his  election 
to  be  Chaplain  returnd  from  Bombay  and  has  officiated  to  general 
satisfaction.  He  and  Mr.  Colefax  are  appointed  to  the  duty  here 
and  Mr.  Staveley  at  Fort  St.  David.'  '  Servants  refusing  to  go  to 
subordinates  shall  be  immediately  dismissed.'  '  Mr.  Starke  shall  as 
directed  be  reduced  in  salary.'  '  Captain  Morgan  is  74,  has  served 
42  years  and  got  7  children.  He  alledges  his  expences  are  much 
superior  to  his  income.'  '  Church  stock. — Mr.  Harrison  has  settled 
his  account  with  it.'  '  Permission  of  £12  shall  be  recovered  of 
each  passenger.'  '  Captain-Lieutenant  Pigou  preferrd  to  a  company 
by  Captain  Love' s  shooting  himself.  Ensign  Joseph  Edward  Cooper 
to  be  Captain-Lieutenant ;  and  John  Seaton,  gunner  of  Vizagapatam, 
made  Lieutenant  of  Artillery.'  '  Governor,  highly  sensible  of  the 
approval  of  his  conduct,  will  merit  the  continuance  of  it' 

'  Mr.  Brohier  allowed  an  addition  of  25  Pags.  a  month  for  a 
house,  etc.,  for  carrying  on  his  branch,  for  supplying  the  insuffici- 
ency of  what  paid  for  his  maintenance,  and  as  an  encouragement 
of  the  great  assiduity  with  which  he  has  so  deservingly  behaved  in 
his  station,  agreeable  to  Mr.  Robins'  recommendation  for  not 
stinting  him  too  much.' 

Will  continue  till  May  the  books  of  Fort  St.  David  as  a 
Presidency,  and  the  books  of  Fort  St.  George  as  a  subordinate 
factory.  '  Mr.  Morse's  accounts. — Can  give  no  light  to  them. 
Madras  books  coud  not  be  sent  in  a  more  regular  manner, 
several  accounts  from  April  to  September  being  missing  ;  those  in 
the  different  employs  mustbe  very  capable  of  explaining  them.' 
'  China  Jesuits'  annuity  has  been  demanded.  Wait  directions  for 
paying  interest  thereof.'  'Bonds  bearing  simple  interest  shall  be 
paid  when  rupees  are  provided  for  the  Bay.'  '  Standing  orders. — 
Some  of  the  old  books  missing.  Shall  collect  the  rest  and  the 
paragraphs  intended  as  such  since  Madras  was  lost' 


/ 


/ 


CALENDAR  FOR  1752  1753  171 

Sumatra  affairs. 

1  Of  the  new  Charter. — Are  concerned  the  whole  [of  former 
judicial  power]  is  not  valid,  as  well  as  those  powers,  the  Company 
advise,  are  still  subsisting.  Desire  the  whole  Charter  may  be  sent 
in  full  force.' 

'  The  Diana  is  the  only  ship  yet  arrived  at  Pondicherry.  It  is 
said  she  brings  60  recruits.'  The  French  '  have  for  some  years 
provided  goods  for  the  Manilha  market  within  the  English  bounds, 
and  endeavoured  to  ruin  their  trade  there.  A  stop  has  been  put  to 
this  and  the  French  have  been  desired  to  furnish  themselves  within 
their  own  limits.'  The  Dutch  have  no  ships  yet  arrived,  and  the 
Danes  expect  3  this  season. 

Supplement :  '  The  Centaur  arrived  from  Europe  at  Pondicherry 
the  1st  instant.  By  her  Captain  Cooke  wrote  the  30th  May  from 
Joanna  that  the  Admiral  Vernon  had  run  ashore  at  Mayotta  and 
been  obliged  to  throw  some  guns  overboard,  but  was  uncertain  of 
the  damages  received  and  expected  to  be  at  St.  David  in  10  days 
after  his  letter.  Have  no  account  of  the  other  ship.  It  is  reported 
this  ship  has  brought  the  French  a  good  many  men.  Are  uncertain 
of  the  number.'  '  Mr.  Kinneer. — £100  per  annum  will  be  deducted 
from  his  appointments  to  be  paid  half-yearly  for  the  use  of  his 
family  in  England  agreeable  to  the  promise  he  says  was  made  him 
there.'  Bills  drawn  on  the  Company  for  208  Pags.,  and  certificates 
for  787  Pags. 

[Separate]  Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to  the 
Company.  Fort  St.  George.  July  5,  1752.  [Public  Despat- 
ches to  England,  Vol.  19,  pp.  32—38.  {Copy  6V2  pp.)  Damaged.  Also 
The  French  in  India,  Vol.  2,  pp.  63 — 71.     (India  Office  transcript.)] 

Have  tried  various  methods  in  vain  to  get  letters  conveyed  to 
Salabat  Jang ;  and  have  only  received  letters  from  him  via 
Pondichery.  According  to  the  best  accounts  from  Aurangabad 
Ghazi-ud-din  is  hostile  to  the  French  ;  Salabat  Jang  was  for  some 
time  engaged  in  a  war  with  the  Marathas,  but  made  peace,  returned 
to  Aurangabad,  and  then  moved  to  Golconda ;  on  the  march  his 
Diwan  Ramadas  Pantulu,  the  greatest  enemy  of  the  English,  was 
killed  '  in  a  dispute  that  arose  between  him  and  the  leading  men.' 

When  Dupleix  perceived  Chunda  Sahib's  cause  declining,  he 
wrote  urgently  to  the  Deccan  for  help  ;  '  the  French  Subadar  '  with 
some  horse  and  60  Europeans  with  officers  were  sent,  but  stopped 
by  the  Nawabs  of  Cuddapah  and  Kurnool.  Only  2  officers  and 
their  baggage  have  reached  Pulicat. 


172  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

The  French  have  failed  to  secure  the  destruction  of  our  Northern 
factories.  Jaffar  Ali  has  returned  asNawabof  Rajahmundry,  and, 
though  at  first  he  said  he  had  orders  to  demolish  them,  he  has  since 
written  to  Westcott  and  Saunders  that  he  is  ordered  to  restore  us  to 
our  old  privileges.  The  French  still  hold  Masulipatam,  etc.,  and 
continue  their  fortifications. 

In  the  Carnatic  the   enemy  were  trying  to   ravage  our  districts. 
After  the  reinforcement  arrived  from   Bengal,  Clive,  who  was  at 
Madras,  took  the  field  with  all  the  forces  he  could  collect,  and  found 
the  enemy    entrenched   at  Vandalur   about    15  miles    out.     They 
decamped  at  night  and  moved  hastily  to  Kaveripak  whence  they 
hoped  to  surprize  Arcot.     An  engagement  followed  in  which  most 
of  their  Europeans  were  killed  or  taken,   and  all  their  cannon  and 
baggage  were  captured.     At  this  time  de  Gingens  wrote  that  with 
the  addition  of  Clive's  force  he  should  be  able  to  defeat  the  enemy 
at  Trichinopoly.     Clive  was  ordered  at  once  to  march  thither ;  he 
went  by  Fort  St.  David  ;  and,  while  he  was  replacing  his  military 
stores  there,  Lawrence  arrived  from  Europe  on  the  Durrington,  took 
command  of  the  troops,  and  on  March  18  set  out  for  Trichinopoly. 
When  he  was  nearly  there,  the  enemy  came  out  to  meet  him  but  were 
forced  to  retire.     Next  day    Chunda  Sahib,    being   distressed  for 
provisions,  retreated  across  the  Cauveri  into  the  island  of  Srirangam 
without  losing  a  man  or  a  gun.     After  a  time  we  captured  his  out- 
posts, and   he   was  blockaded  in  the  island.     d'Auteuil,  who  was 
coming  with  a  strong    escort  of  money    and  stores,     was    driven 
back  to  Uttatur  and  then  to  Valikondapuram,  where  he  was  defeated 
by  Clive  and  the  convoy  captured.    This  reduced  Chunda  Sahib  to 
great   straits.     Fearing   Srirangam   would   be   taken,  he   attempt- 
ed flight,    having,    it    is   said,   received  encouragement   from   the 
Tanjore  leader ;  but   he   was  seized    when   passing  the  sentries. 
The  next  day  a  dispute  arose  as  to  who  should  have  the  custody  of 
him,  and,  agreement  being  impossible,   the  Tanjore  general  had 
him  beheaded.     His  head  was  afterwards  exposed   in  the  camp. 
The  French  say  that  the  Tanjore  leader  had  promised  to  help  his 
escape  and  to  do  him  no  harm.     After  this  the  Nawab  summoned 
Law  to  surrender,  which  at  last  he  did,  with  the  request  that  his 
officers,  and  volunteers  might  be  sent  to  Pondichery,  and  that  the 
soldiers  should  be  kept  at  Fort  St.  David  and  Madras,  to  avoid  the 
ill-treatment  which  they  feared  at  Trichinopoly,  binding  himself  to 
replace  all  who  should  desert  on  the  way. 

Unhappily  this  great  success  has  not  settled  the  affairs  of  the 
province.     The  King  of  Mysore  sent  troops,  brought  with  him  the 


CALENDAR  FOR  1752  1753  *73 

Marathas,  and  supplied  the  Nawab  with  money  ;  but  at  the  time 
the  terms  on  which  he  did  this  were  not  known.  Lawrence  had 
been  ordered,  in  case  of  success,  to  march  on  Gingee  ;  but  when  he 
proposed  to  do  so,  the  Mysoreans  and  Marathas  refused  to  join  him 
till  the  Nawab  had  complied  with  his  promise  of  giving  up  Trichi- 
nopoly  to  the  King  of  Mysore.  Several  days  were  spent  discussing 
this  matter,  but  the  utmost  the  King  of  Mysore  could  be  brought  to 
was  to  offer  to  accept  the  English  guarantee  for  the  surrender  of 
Trichinopoly  as  soon  as  the  Nawab  was  settled  in  his  Government. 
The  Nawab  admits  he  has  no  right  to  give  away  such  large 
countries;  and  the  English  are  allied  with  the  Sarkar  to  protect 
it,  and  cannot  appear  in  such  a  transaction.  Moreover  Mysore  is 
the  Nawab's  sole  support,  and,  should  that  state  and  the  Marathas 
join  the  French,  the  Nawab  would  be  in  a  dangerous  situation. 
Dupleix  is  doing  his  best  to  foment  these  dissensions.  Saunders  has 
written  to  the  King  of  Mysore,  begging  him  to  drop  this  dispute 
for  the  present  and  promising  him  the  friendship  of  the  English 
to  assist  in  settling  the  matter  later  on. 

Dupleix  is  much  chagrined  at  his  defeat  after  so  much  boasting. 
He  quarrels  with  his  relations  ;  has  confined  Law  ;  and  troubles  us 
constantly  with  depositions  of  his  officers.  After  the  news  of  the 
victory  had  reached  Fort  St.  David,  Dupleix  wrote  that  he  had 
just  received  a  letter  from  Salabat  Jang  empowering  him  to  make 
peace.  He  proposes  as  a  basis  that  Muhammad  Ali  shall  have 
Trichinopoly.  Believe  this  is  only  intended  to  gain  time  as 
Dupleix  declares  he  will  not  make  peace  unless  the  Nawab  sur- 
renders his  prisoners  ;  and  this  is  plainly  impossible.  They  are  the 
Nawab's,  and  are  only  in  the  English  settlements  at  Law's  special 
request.  Peace  on  a  firm  basis  is  very  desirable  for  the  revival  of 
trade ;  and  moreover  '  these  people '  [the  Indians]  have  no 
principles,  have  learnt  much  of  the  art  of  war,  and  are  accumulating 
military  stores,  so  that  they  may  come  to  annoy  us.  But  as  a  basis 
for  peace,  must  insist  on  the  Nawab  enjoying  his  Government  just 
*s  formerly,  the  Kings  of  Mysore  and  Tanjore  must  be  included, 
and  the  French  must  give  up  those  places  which  threaten  us — the 
Nawab  may  grant  them  others  if  he  pleases — ,  and  the  prisoners  may 
be  released  on  condition  of  not  serving  again  against  the  Nawab. 
But  these  terms,  reasonable  as  they  are,  are  not  likely  to  be 
accepted  unless  the  Nawab  can  send  his  army  into  this  province 
and  the  French  receive  no  considerable  reinforcements.  But 
should  peace  be  made,  the  French   will  be   able   to  employ  their 


1/4  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

forces  elsewhere — at  Masulipatam,  Divi  Island  and  Tellicherry. 
In  any  case  considerable  reinforcements  are  desired.  Have  not 
yet  been  at  the  expense  of  presents,  and  will  continue  the  troop  of 
horse  no  longer  than  necessary. 

abstract  of  despatch  from  thomas  saunders,  etc.,  to 
the  Company.  Fort   St.  George.    November  3,  1752. 

RECEIVED  AUGUST  21,  1753.     [Coast  and  Bay  Abstracts,  Letters 
Received,  Vol.  5,  pp.  373—377-     (India  Office  transcript.)] 

Acknowledge  the  receipt  of  despatches  of  August  23,  December 
[November?]  14  and  22,  1751,  and  January  8,  1752.  Cite  despatches 
of  July  5  and  12  [?]  1752.     This  is  designed  by  the  Colchester. 

The  Bay  and  Sumatra  shipping.  '  Bengal  have  not  advised  the 
tonnage  they  may  provide  for.  Expect  two  or  three  ships  must 
stay  and  that  they  will  send  a  ship  for  filling  up  with  the  surplus 
pepper  at  Fort  MarlbrO.  Wager  and  Hector  having  been  sent  from 
the  other  Coast,  no  assistance  is  to  be  thence  hoped  for.' 

'  Slaves.— 216  received  per  Delawar,  142  males,  74  females. 
The  men  being  of  infinite  service  especially  in  the  Train  are  to  be 
disciplind;  and  the  women  sent  to  the  West  Coast.'  'Silver,  coral, 
etc.,  account,  for  which  returns  have  not  been  made  in  full  within 
limited  time,  enclosd.  Reasons  have  been  given  for  the  delay  to 
most  of  the  articles.  What  are  unanswerd  have  no  claimants. 
Submit  that  the  manifest  express  the  consigner  and  consignee, 
that  the  traders  be  obliged  to  observe  their  contract  and  not 
employ  the  produce  in  India,  it  being  apprehended  they  give  orders 
for  it  and  paying  sums  into  cash  at  Bengal.  This  lucrative  branch 
carryed  on  by  the  English  only  is  almost  ruind  by  the  ignorance 
and  inexperience  of  so  many  sent  out  for  engaging  in  it.' 

'Lead  and  iron  sold  this  year  beyond  expectation  and  believe 
an  encouraging  price  will  continue.'  'Broadcloth  on  hand  sold  at 
outcry  according  to  prescribed  directions.  It  is  uncertain  when  it 
will  be  cleard.  A  large  quantity  of  former  sales  remaining  in  the 
place,  indent  cant  be  enlargd,  prices  being  already  much  fallen 
and  likely  to  continue  so.'  'Velvets  are  only  demanded  for 
Europeans  and  a  small  quantity  for  presents.  One  sort  will 
answer  as  well  as  another.  The  greatest  part  receivd  this  season 
lye  unsold.'  'Treasure  more  than  designd  has  been  shippd  for 
the  Bay,  gold  excepted.  Payment  of  bonds  and  fortification 
charges  drawing  so  much  cash,  they  could  not  do  without  that  and 
hope  to  stand  excusd   for  not  exposing  themselves  to  necessity.' 


CALENDAR  FOR  1752-1753  175 

'Rice  so  scarce  in  Bengal  last  January,  its  exportation  was  prohi- 
bited, and,  continuing  so  in  September,  none  has  been  imported 
here,  so  that  for  preventing  calamitys  of  inhabitants,  orderd  no 
grain  to  be  carryed  out  of  the  bounds.'  The  excess  saltpetre 
from  Bengal  will  be  used  up  in  the  Powder  mills.  '  Indents 
enclosd.  It  is  especially  desird  that  for  military  stores  may  be 
complyd  with  to  prevent  the  worst  of  consequences.  Price  current 
of  gold  and  silver  with  Assaymaster's  musters  also  sent.' 

'  Investment  has  not  been  greatly  affected  by  the  troubles  ;  yet 
fearful  of  it  since  the  Morattas  joynd  the  Nabob  who  plunder,  etc., 
both  friend  and  foe  ;  but  they  had  prevaild  on  him  not  to  intro- 
duce them  into  these  parts  at  present  in  peace.'  'Northern 
factorys  quiet  and  succeed;  have  been  under  inconceivable 
difficultys  for  supplying  them  with  gold.  It  is  desired  their 
request  for  gold  from  China  may  be  considerd  of.'  '  Fine  goods 
merchants  have  been  abated  for  some  inferior  to  muster,  the 
only  measure  to  be  pursu'd  during  the  troubles.' 

'  Renters  of  Poonamalee  and  St.  Thome. — The  best  terms  pos- 
sible shall  be  made  for  the  losses  they  sustaind  as  advisd  per 
Swallow,  as  the  Committee  for  enquiring  into  them  could  not  make 
any  exact  calculation.  The  troubles  keep  people  from  engaging 
in  rents.  It  was  with  difficulty  the  former  farmers  of  Poona- 
malee agreed  on  last  year's  terms.' 

'  Fortification. — Little  has  been  added  to  them,  as  the  place  itself 
was  in  so  ruinous  a  condition.  Those  at  St.  David  advance  as 
fast  as  possible.  Refer  to  Brohier's  letter  hereupon.'  '  Mr.  Moore 
dissatisfyed  with  his  salary  as  overseer  of  the  workmen  has 
resigned.'  'Devecotahis  an  old  country  fortification  Putting  it 
into  tolerable  order  would  take  up  time  and  a  great  expence,  so  that 
only  the  absolutely  necessary  repairs  will  be  given  it.'  '  Rent  of 
1,200  Pags.  per  annum  for  Madrass  has  on  application  for  it  been 
taken  off  by  the  Nabob.'  '  Repairs  to  the  Garden  House  and 
offices  at  St.  David  formerly  made  there  by  Mr.  Burton.  He  has 
desird  471  Pags.  on  that  account.  It  appears  Mr.  Burton  did  lay 
out  a  considerable  sum  there  which  it  is  the  general  opinion  he 
had  not  been  reimbursd.  Directions  desird  hereupon.'  'Captain 
Chabbert's  health  being  greatly  affected,  he  has  desird  to  resign 
and  return.'  'Major  Kinneer  died  9th  ultimo.  Lieutenant  Cooper 
was  killed  at  Covelon  16th  September;  and  Ensign  Lewis  dyd  at 
Vizagapatam   9th    July.'      'William   Lefevre,   writer,    dyed    2lst 


176  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

August,  Chaplain  Colefax  the  26th  and  Samuel  Tat[h]em,  factor, 
nth  October.'  '  Surat  and  Tellicherry  are  in  peace.'  'Military 
promotions. — Ensigns  Smith  and  Spears  to  Lieutenancys  ;  and 
Joseph  Edward  Cooper  to  the  same  ;  Lieutenant  Gaup  appointed 
Captain  in  Captain  Chabbert's  room  ;  Second  Lieutenant  Wagner, 
First ;  and  Ensign  Heydegger,  Second  Lieutenant ;  also  Voluntier 
Lullin  made  an  Ensign.'  '  Swiss  that  were  in  action  have  behaved 
very  gallantly.'  '  Danish  missionaries  have  been  paid  500  Pags. 
and  the  Romish  Church  at  Viparee  given  them.'  '  Jaggoo  paying 
annually  2,000  Pags.  of  his  debt  is  permitted  till  the  Court's  pleasure 
is  known  to  receive  a  custom  to  a  pagoda  formerly  built  by  his 
father  and  to  whom  the  same  was  paid.'  '  Mr.  Cooke  being  re- 
covered is  gone  to  his  station  at  St.  David.'  Bourchier  has 
succeeded  Cockell  in  Council,  subject  to  the  Company's  orders. 
'  Officers  to  two  new  companys  will  be  appointed  at  Major 
Lawrence's  instance.'  '  Sepoys — their  number  at  the  Presidency 
fixed  at  600,  at  Fort  St.  David  600,  and  at  Devecotah  100.  The 
excess  the  Nabob  must  pay  for.  Coffrees  in  the  Train  and  Mili- 
tary have  an  uniform.  They  shall  have  a  monthly  allowance  for 
diet  which  will  be  the  cheapest  and  most  satisfactory  to  them.' 
'  Swiss  Companys  must  be  annually  recruited.  These  troops  enjoy 
the  same  privileges  as  in  other  services  and  are  tryd  by  their 
officers  to  prevent  uneasiness  and  on  Major  Lawrence's  inti- 
mations.' Have  appointed  some  assistants  for  the  Hospital.  More 
medicines  are  required.  '  Horse. — Some  discharged,  few  remain. 
Shall  be  reducd  if  possible.' 

1  Bonds. — Purpose  paying  them  off  in  January,  hoping  the 
exchange  now  so  low  as  390  Rs.  may  then  rise'.  The  exchange  is 
fixed  at  7s.  Sd.  a  pagoda.  Robert  Goodere  owes  the  Company 
3,338  Pags.  which  sum  '  is  attachd  in  his  attorney's  hands.' 

Sumatra  affairs:  'Six  French  ships  arrivd,  besides  what 
remaind.  3  have  been  despatched  to  the  Islands  with  piece- 
goods,  etc.  Cant  say  how  many  will  go  for  Europe,  but  most  are 
expected  to  return  here  with  Military  and  Coffrees.  A  later 
ship  is  still  expected  from  Europe.'  '  Metchlepatam. — It  is  not 
found  the  Dutch  make  any  pretensions  to  it  but  remain  inactive.' 

'  Danes  have  three  ships  this  season,  two  of  them  men-of-war 
with  300  recruits.' 

Postcript":  Bills  on  the  Company  for  1,897  Pags. ;  and  certifi- 
cates for  1,013  Pags. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1752  1753  *77 

[Separate]  Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to  the 
Company.    Fort  St.  George.   November  3, 1752.    [Public 

Despatches  to  England,  Vol.  19,  pp.  38 — 46  (Copy  9  pp.)  Damaged. 
Also  The  trench  in  India,  Vol.  2,  pp.  75 — 86.  (India  Office  trans- 
cript.)] 

News  from  Aurangabad  that  Ghazi-ud-din  with  a  sannad  from 
the  Moghal  has  reached  Aurangabad  with  his  ally  Nana,  Sahu 
Raja's  General,  and  that  Salabat  Jang  and  the  French  are  preparing 
to  attack  him.  The  Nana  has  sent  Vakils  here  and  to  Bombay, 
desiring  us  to  continue  our  assistance  to  Muhammad  Ali  and  to 
send  troops  to  Ghazi-ud-din.  A  small  force  cannot  be  sent  from 
here,  as  Salabat  Jang's  army  lies  in  between  ;  so  Bourchier  was 
desired  to  do  so  from  Bombay  (the  letter  is  entered  '  in  our  private 
correspondence').  Muhammad  Ali's  position  depends  largely  on 
what  happens  in  the  Deccan-  The  French  have  sent  all  the  troops 
they  could  spare  to  Salabat  Jang;  the  advantage  of  a  Train  and 
European  troops  has  often  been  evident ;  and  Ghazi-ud-din  has 
neither  though  he  has  a  large  army.  Should  the  two  come  to  terms, 
Salabat  Jang  would  of  course  support  his  allies. 

The  dispute  between  the  Nawab  and  the  King  of  Mysore 
continues.  The  latter  has  sent  a  Vakil  to  Madras  with  offers  to 
support  the  Nawab  if  the  English  will  guarantee  the  cession  of 
Trichinopoly  ;  but  the  Nawab  declares  he  has  no  power  to  execute 
his  promise,  which  was  made  only  out  of  dire  necessity.  Received 
a  letter  purporting  to  come  from  Salabat  Jang,  desiring  the  English 
to  support  Muhammad  Ali  and  denying  the  latter's  right  to  cede 
Trichinopoly.  As  the  matter  is  intricate,  have  answered  the  King 
of  Mysore  that  we  are  '  merchants,  allies  of  the  Circar  and  not 
principals',  that  we  cannot  interfere  in  matters  of  this  nature,  but 
are  willing  to  act  as  mediators.  There  is  no  doubt  of  the  Nawab's 
having  made  the  promise,  but  both  he  and  the  King  must  have 
known  that  he  could  not  fulfil  it.  The  King  is  immensely  rich,  and 
the  acquisition  of  Trichinopoly  would  lead  to  his  conquering 
Tanjore  and  becoming  over-powerful. 

If  the  march  of  the  army  had  not  been  delayed  by  this  business, 
the  whole  of  the  province  would  have  submitted.  At  last  the 
army  moved  to  Uttatur  and  then  to  Valikondapuram.  There  how- 
ever Lawrence  heard  that  the  Marathas  were  meaning  to  detain 
the  Nawab  ;  so  he  returned  to  Trichinopoly;  and,  after  two  days, 
when  matters  seemed  settled,  he  and  the  Nawab  rejoined  the  army 
leaving  a  garrison  to  defend  Trichinopoly. 
23 


I78  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

After  the  capture  of  Tiruviti,  Lawrence  fell  sick,  and  Major 
Kinneer  took  the  command  after  a  delay  which  enabled  the  enemy 
to  raise  more  sepoys.  Meanwhile  they  also  received  reinforce- 
ments from  Europe.  The  English  design  was  to  capture  Gingee, 
but,  on  appearing  before  it  after  capturing  Villupuram,  Kinneer 
found  it  too  strong  to  be  attempted  with  the  troops  he  had.  In  his 
return  he  found  the  French  strongly  encamped  at  Vikravandi. 
Kinneer  attacked,  but,  in  spite  of  his  superior  numbers,  the  position 
was  too  strong  to  be  forced,  and  Kinneer  was  wounded  in  the  leg. 
The  enemy's  loss  was  much  greater  than  ours. 

Kinneer  having  retired  into  garrison,  the  command  was  held  by 
Captain  Clarke  until  Lawrence  again  took  the  field.  The  enemy 
having  camped  at  Bahur,  the  Nawab's  Army  moved  from  Tiruviti, 
on  which  the  French  withdrew  by  night  towards  Pondichery.  We 
advanced  ;  there  were  a  few  skirmishes  and  some  villages  were 
burnt ;  but  as  an  engagement  could  not  be  forced,  we  withdrew  to 
Bahur.  The  enemy,  perceiving  their  country  had  suffered  by  their 
retirement,  then  advanced  and  camped  in  sight  of  us.  Lawrence 
attacked  them  early  in  the  morning ;  and  three-quarters  of  the 
enemy  were  killed  or  taken  with  all  their  baggage  and  cannon. 

The  Nawab  then  desiring  Covelong  and  Chingleput  tobe  reduced, 
Clive  was  sent  with  some  new  recruits  and  sepoys.  Covelong  sur- 
rendered as  soon  as  a  battery  had  been  erected;  and  a  party 
advancing  from  Chingleput  to  relieve  it  was  defeated  with  the  loss 
of  some  prisoners.  Clive  was  then  reinforced  from  the  Army,  and 
marched  against  Chingleput,  which  is  a  strong  place  almost  sur- 
rounded by  a  morass  and  defended  by  a  double  stone-wall  and  a 
ditch.  As  soon  as  heavy  guns  could  be  brought  up,  the  attack  was 
begun,  a  breach  was  made,  and  the  garrison  surrendered  on  condi- 
tion of  being  released  on  parole.  Meanwhile  the  grand  Army  had 
moved  northward  in  order  to  cover  these  operations  and  to  reduce 
Chetpattu  and  Wandiwash.  The  Army  marched  from  Tiruviti 
and  appeared  before  the  latter ;  the  Killedar  then  agreed  to  pay  3 
lakhs  of  rupees.  The  Nawab  was  very  anxious  for  the  reduction  of 
the  other  place ;  but  though  it  was  reported  weakly  held,  Lawrence 
declined  to  attack  it  and  returned  to  Tiruviti. 

In  regard  to  the  parts  borne  by  the  English  and  French,  Chunda 
Sahib  was  only  Nawab  of  these  parts  by  order  of  Muzaffar  Jang 
and  Salabat  Jang,  whereas  Muhammad  Ali  was  appointed  by  Nasir 
Jang  and  has  been  confirmed  by  Ghazi-ud-din  and  even  by  Salabat 
Jang.     Both  sides  have  acted  only  as  allies,  and  prisoners  (as  at 


CALENDAR  FOR  1752-1753  179 

Trichinopoly),  have  surrendered  to  the  principals.  The  Trichinopoly 
prisoners  however  were  sent  at  Law's  request  to  Fort  St.  David  to 
avoid  the  ill-treatment  expected  from  the  Moors.  Dupleix  then 
demanded  their  return,  as  the  nations  were  at  peace  and  we  could 
not  hold  prisoners  under  our  colours.  We  replied  that  we  had  no 
prisoners  of  our  own,  although  the  Nawab  had  committed  some  of 
his  to  our  custody  at  the  particular  request  of  M.  Law.  On  this 
Dupleix  seized  a  company  of  Swiss  on  their  way  by  boat  to  Fort  St. 
David.  The  correspondence  shows  that  both  sides  have  acted  as 
allies  only.  The  French  have  often  broken  their  paroles,  we  have 
not.  We  have  done  our  best  to  save  French  prisoners,  as  they  fight 
under  compulsion  from  Dupleix;  but  since  this  we  have  not  inter- 
fered ;  the  Nawab  disposes  of  his  prisoners,  and  'officers  and  men 
vent  their  spleen  on  Mr.  Dupleix.'  The  seizure  of  Masulipatam  and 
Divi  Island  was  an  actual  breach  of  Treaty.  Our  colours  were 
pulled  down  at  Kumbakonam.  Dupleix  wrote  that  our  colours  at 
Trichinopoly  should  not  protect  us  from  attack.  At  Arcot  British 
troops  under  the  King's  colours  were  besieged,  and  the  French  flew 
their  flag  on  the  battery.  The  houses  at  the  Mount  were  plundered 
by  the  French  and  Chunda  Sahib's  people,  though  lying  within  our 
district  of  St.  Thome,  and  the  spoils  were  carried  to  Pondichery. 
Yet  Dupleix  has  the  effrontery  to  complain  of  breaches  of  Treaty 
when  the  Nawab  takes  Tiruviti,  Villupuram,  etc.  ;  whereas  we 
have  never  violated  the  French  Bounds  and  have  prevented  the 
Nawab  from  doing  so.  Sometimes  Dupleix  figures  as  Chunda 
Sahib's  ally,  sometimes  as  Nawab  of  the  country  from  Cape 
Comorin  to  the  Kistna.  Our  reply  is  that  the  Treaty  does  not 
preclude  the  English  from  alliance  with  Muhammad  Ali. 

Our  efforts  for  peace  have  come  to  nothing.  The  Nawab  sent  his 
Vakil  to  Dupleix,  who  haughtily  answered  that  he  would  not  treat 
until  the  prisoners  were  given  up.  The  Nawab  would  have  given 
the  French  countries  as  valuable  as  those  they  were  possessed  of 
(worth  five  or  six  lakhs  of  rupees  a  year)  so  that  they  would  not 
have  suffered  by  Chunda  Sahib's  defeat.  The  refusal  of  these 
terms  proves  that  Dupleix  will  be  satisfied  with  nothing  less  than 
the  whole  of  his  '  scheme.'  Doubt  whether  he  has  communicated 
our  letters  to  his  Council ;  but  we  always  address  the  Councill. 
The  importance  of  what  may  happen  at  Aurangabad.  Shall  do 
our  best  to  hinder  an  alliance  between  the  French  and  Ghazi-ud- 
din.  In  the  south  Dupleix  is  negotiating  with  the  Mysoreans  and 
the  Marathas.     The  French  forces  (excluding  prisoners  and  the 


180  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Deccan  detachment)  are  much  inferior  to  ours,  but  they  are  still 
expecting  a  ship  with  300  men,  and  are  drafting  men  and  coffrees 
from  the  Islands.  Desire  therefore  recruits  and  stores.  Regret 
Lawrence's  dissatisfaction.  All  decisions  are  arrived  at  in 
Council  and  are  communicated  to  him  in  the  gentlest  terms. 

abstract  of  despatch  from  thomas  saunders,  etc.,  to 
the  Company.    Fort  St.  George.   February  12,  1753. 

RECEIVED    AUGUST     21,     1753.      [Coast    and    Bay    Abstracts, 
Letters  Received,  Vol.  5,  pp.  380 -381.     (India  Office  transcript.)] 

'The  accompanying  was  intended  per  Colchester.  She  had  on 
board  1,545  bales  31st  October,  when  a  violent  storm  happend 
which  drove  her,  the  Delawdr  and  Brilliant  out  of  the  road.  The 
former  got  to  St.  David  dismasted  and  damaged ;  the  Delawar  to 
Gallee  in  the  same  condition  ;  and  having  no  account  of  the  Bril- 
liant, that  was  to  have  saild  next  day  for  the  West  Coast,  are  of 
opinion  she  is  gone  there.'     Other  shipping  news. 

'  Gauzedee  Cawn  poisond  at  Aurangabad  by  Salabat  Jing's 
mother.  The  Nana  encamping  near  the  latter's  army,  who  after  a 
trifling  skirmish  accommodated  affairs,  giving  the  Moratta  some 
countrys  promisd  by  Gauzedee,  whose  son  and  Salabat  Jing  are 
competitors  for  the  Decan  government.  It  is  reported  the  latter 
will  have  it.  The  French  disappointed  in  drawing  Salabat's  army 
into  the  province  and  in  their  desire  for  a  sanned  for  the  province. 
He  is  marching  to  Aurangabad  with  the  French.  The  Nana  on 
this  side  the  Kistna  will  settle  this  province,  where  the  Morattas 
may  in  time  establish  their  own  government.  Shall  endeavour  to 
improve  the  friendship  subsisting  with  the  Nana  and  prevent  the 
French  gaining  his  interest.'  '  The  army  at  Trivady,  were  of 
opinion,  should  be  kept  in  the  field.  Mr.  Lawrence  differed  in  it. 
And  many  difficulties  being  started,  were  obligd  to  order  the  troops 
into  garrison.  Sixteen  days  after,  as  apprehended,  the  enemy 
took  the  field.  Mr.  Lawrence  then  thought  it  necessary  the  English 
should  do  the  same.  The  Nabab's  army  is  at  Trivady  ;  the  French 
and  Morattas  within  6  miles  of  them;  the  enemy  inferior  in 
Europeans  but  greatly  superior  in  Moratta  horse;  to  supply  that 
shall  endeavour  to  engage  the  King  of  Tanjore  in  the  Nabob's 
interest.'  '  A  detachment  at  Tritchanopoly  cut  to  pieces  by  the 
enemy.'  '  Saudet  Bunder  being  of  great  disservice  to  the  Nabab 
he  orderd  it  to  be  razed.'  '  Captain  Schaub  and  his  company  still 
at  Pondicherry.     Swiss  at  Bengal  deserting  are  orderd   hither  on 


calendar  for  1752-1753  181 

the  Godolphin.'  '  Major  Kinneer  dead,  Captain  Clive  taking  passage 
on  the  Admiral  Vernon  and  Captain  Gingins  on  another  ship, 
Mr.  Lawrence  the  only  commanding  officer  they  have.'  '  Troubles 
will  continue.  A  division  in  Nizam 's  family,  the  Morattas  will  make 
advantage  of  it.  It  is  impossible  to  fix  on  a  plan.  Peace  on  good 
terms  most  advantageous,  which  the  French  will  not  come  into  but 
on  conditions  to  the  ruin  of  the  English  settlements.  Their  forces 
if  joind  to  those  at  Aurangabad  greatly  superior.  They  plunder  the 
country  and  prevent  the  Nabob  collecting  the  revenues.  Requested 
supplys  of  men  and  warlike  stores  absolutely  necessary  for 
preserving  the  settlements  and  trade.' 

abstract  of  despatch  from  thomas  saunders,  etc.,  to  the 
Company.  Fort  St.  George.  February  21,  1753.  Re- 
ceived AUGUST  21,  1753.  [Coast  and  Bay  Abstracts,  Letters 
Received,  Vol  5,  pp.  381 — 385.     (India  Office  transcript.)] 

'  Colchester  dismasted  and  shatterd  by  the  storm  put  into 
St.  David.  Captain  Mainwaring  immediately  went  thither  and 
being  assisted  to  the  utmost  hoped  to  have  return'd  her ;  but  he 
and  his  officers  on  a  survey  thought  it  unsafe  till  her  bottom  was 
examined.'  The  Admiral  Vernon  is  proceeding  to  Fort  St.  David 
to  take  in  the  Colchester's  cargo. 

The  Delawar  laded  for  Sumatra  was  ordered  thither  from  Galle. 
Purchased  the  Yorkshire  Grey,  300  tons,  for  10,000  Pags.  for  the. 
Sumatra  service,  as  the  Brilliant  is  believed  to  have  been  lost. 
China,  etc.,  shipping.  Purchased  the  Dragon  sloop,  20  tons,  for  300 
Pags.  for  Coast  service.  The  Fortune  sloop  was  purchased  for 
Pegu  service.  Shall  dispose  of  the  Arcot  snow  which  has  been 
condemned.  '  Unseasonable  and  late  dispatches  remarked,  Col- 
chester not  arriving  till  13th  October  and  Admiral  Vernon  only 
7th  instant.' 

'  Gunpowder  promisd  from  Bombay  will  be  very  acceptable.' 
1  Baftaes  from  Bengal  damaged  sold  at  outcry.'  '  Gold. — Labour 
under  great  difficulties  on  the  want  of  it  for  Northern  settlements 
and  current  expences.' 

'Vizagapatam  cloth  re-sorted  found  good.  Hope  it  will  give 
satisfaction.'  '  Ingeram  cloth,  most  low  numbers,  some  has  been 
rejected.  Resident  is  strictly  orderd  to  keep  up  to  a  good  sortment.' 
'Investment,  considering  the  troubles,  cant  be  complaind  of. 
Admiral  Vernon,  Chesterfield  and  Godolphin  will,  it  is  hopd,  have  their 
tonnage  and  some  few  bales  left.     Morattas  surrounding  St.  David, 


182  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

will  try  to  get  their  cloth   to  Devecotah  and   thence  to  St.  David 
by  sea.' 

1  Northern  factorys  unmolested.  Vizaram  Rauze  managing  those 
countrys  particularly  regards  the  English.' 

'  Repairs  of  the  very  great  damages  by  the  late  storm  ordered.' 
1  Powder  house. — Egmore  Redoubt  being  proper  and  not  requiring 
great  expences  will  be  converted  into  one.'  '  Church  at  Viparee. — 
On  delivering  it  to  the  Danish  Mission,  Coja  Petrus  remonstrated 
and  protested.'  '  Fortifications  at  St.  David  impeded  by  the 
Morattas,  the  surmounting  that  difficulty  enforced.  Works  here  in 
hand.  No  pains  shall  be  spard  to  supply  the  weakness  of  the 
Town  to  the  westward  with  expedition.  Refer  to  Mr.  Brohier  on 
this  point.  The  sea  has  gaind  so  of  late  years  that  in  the  N.E. 
monsoon  it  washes  the  walls.'  '  Revenues  fixt. — Collected  as 
usual.     Accountant's  report  thereof  shows  their  encrease.' 

1  Chaplain.— Mr.  Palk  succeeds  as  such  on  Mr.  Colefax's  death 
as  per  orders  and  is  thankful.'  '  Court  of  Enquiry  held  on  Captain 
Gingin's  complaint  of  being  aspersed  by  Lieutenant  De  Mare. 
Military  Regulations  requiring  Commandant  and  2  Captains  being 
of  the  Council,  their  examinations  sent  to  Major  Lawrence.  In  the 
meantime  Mr.  De  Mare,  thinking  great  prejudice  appeared  in  the 
affair  resigned.'  '  Major  Kinneer,  a  brave  officer  losing  his  life  in 
the  service,  his  large  family  that  must  be  exposed  to  want  are 
recommended.'  '  Mr.  Orme,  formerly  in  the  service  at  Bengal, 
Captains  Cliveand  Chabbert  take  passage  on  this  ship.'  '  Captain 
Clive  they  must  mention  to  have  had  a  great  share  in  the  several 
campaigns.  Refer  to  Private  Proceedings  thereon.  Are  concernd 
his  health  obliges  him  to  return.'  'Servants  on  the  Coast,  it  is 
requested,  may  with  the  Board's  leave  go  to  sea,  receiving  no  pay 
during  absence.  It  would  advance  their  fortunes,  give  them  a 
general  knowledge  of  India,  be  of  great  service  in  conducting 
affairs  of  consequence  they  may  hereafter  be  entrusted  with,  and 
enable  their  superiors  to  trade  to  profit  by  persons  well  educated, 
having  a  nicer  sense  of  honour  and  honesty  than  those  sometimes 
met  with.  An  inducement  hereto  is  the  hardships  young  servants 
suffer  on  first  coming  out  by  their  evident  scanty  allowances.' 
4  Mr.  Pybus  on  account  of  a  bad  state  of  health  is  recalled  to  the 
Presidency  and  Mr.  Hopkins  succeeds  him  as  Chief  of  Devacotah  ; 
and  Mr.  Calland  the  latter  at  Ingeram.  Mr.  John  Lewin  Smith 
is  appointed  Third  at  Vizagapatam.'  'Captain[s]  to  the  two 
new  companies,  if  not  supplied  with  such  by  the  expected    ships, 


CALENDAR  FOR  1752-1753  183 

commissions  will  be  given  for  them  to  the  next  in  rank.'  '  Military 
promotions. — Ensigns  Harrison,  Trusler,  Bilhock,  Symmonds, 
Moinichen,  Davis,  Wilkey,  Morrice,  Monro  and  Patterson  to 
Lieutenancys ;  and  Ensign's  commissions,  to  voluntiers  Crow, 
Harrison,  Fisher,  Clack,  Preston,  Nelson,  Sommers,  de  Monchanin, 
Melotte,  Greene  and  Smith.  Mr.  Repington  made  Lieutenant  of  the 
Troop  of  Horse,  and  Mr.  Paccard  Ensign  in  the  Bengal  detachment.' 
'  John  Smith,  writer,  died  24th  ultimo.' 

•  Deposit  of  Arcot  Rs.  30,000  at  6  per  cent  for  charitable  uses 
made  by  the  executors  of  Mr.  de  Medeiros.'  'China  mission  have 
applyd  for  annual  interest  on  their  bond  of  Pags.  20,000,  not  paid 
since  loss  of  Madrass.     Shall  wait  directions.' 

Sumatra  affairs :  '  Court  of  Equity  it  is  requested  may  be 
obtained,  being  under  great  inconveniencys  for  want  of  it.' 

Diamonds  registered  amount  to  158,239  Pags.  The  cash  balance 
is  27,725  current  Pags.  and  10,005  Madras  Pags. 

Supplement :  The  Success  sloop  which  was  feared  to  be  lost  has 
safely  reached  the  Straits  of  Malacca.  Bills  and  certificates  for 
4,460  Pags.  and  184  Pags.,  respectively. 

LSeparate]  Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to  the 
Company.    Fort  St.  George.    February  21,  1753.  [Public 

Despatches  to  England,  Vol.  1 9.  pp.  47 — 52  {Copy  5%  pp>) 
Damaged.  Also  Coast  and  Bay  Abstracts,  Letters  Received,  Vol.  5, 
PP-  385-386.     {India  Office  transcript.)} 

As  soon  as  Ghazi-ud-din  reached  Aurangabad,  he  was  poisoned 
by  Salabat  Jang's  mother;  but  the  Nana  continued  his  march 
and  camped  near  Salabnt  Jang.  After  a  skirmish,  peace  was 
made  by  ceding  to  the  Marathas  the  provinces  promised  them  by 
Ghazi-ud-din.  The  latter's  son  is  said  to  have  been  appointed  in 
his  father's  stead ;  and  as  several  nobles  are  displeased  at  the  great 
concessions  to  the  Marathas  and  the  heavy  expense  of  the  French 
troops,  whose  intentions  they  seem  to  suspect,  the  troubles  are 
likely  to  continue.  The  French  made  great  efforts  to  induce  Sala- 
bat Jang  to  march  into  the  Carnatic,  but  a  general  murmuring 
arose,  and  he  has  marched  towards  Aurangabad.  The  French 
then  tried  to  get  a  sanad  for  the  Arcot  Province,  but  failed.  The 
Nana  then  marched  in  this  direction.  He  writes  that  he  will  either 
come  in  person  or  send  some  one  to  settle  affairs  here.  He  professes 
friendship  for  the  Nawab  and  us  ;  but  the  Country  Governments  are 
very  liable  to  change. 


184  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

The  Mysore  King  and  Morari  Rao  have  joined  the  French. 
The  former  is  resolved  to  get  Trichinopoly,  where  we  have  lost 
70  men  and  2  officers  in  an  action.  The  French  and  Morari  Rao 
are  camped  on  the  Pennar  about  6  miles  from  the  Nawab's  army 
at  Tiruviti.  They  are  weak  in  Europeans  and  we  in  cavalry ;  but 
we  think  it  best  to  run  no  risks.  See  no  likelihood  of  peace,  owing 
to  the  dissensions  in  the  Nizam's  family  and  the  French  persistency 
in  their  designs.  They  expect  a  large  reinforcement  from  Europe, 
and  are  collecting  men  from  the  Islands  and  their  other  settlements. 
Hope  for  recruits  and  stores,  as  the,  safety  of  the  Company's  trade 
and  settlements  depends  on  their  coming. 

Taylor  and  Westgarth  write  that  the  King  of  Pegu  has  granted 
the  former  privileges  and  a  factory  at  Syrian  (where  the  English  flag 
has  been  hoisted),  but  dissuades  them  from  a  settlement  at  the 
Negrais  on  the  ground  of  its  unhealthiness  ;  he  promises  however 
that  we  shall  have  it  in  preference  to  any  other  European  nation. 
Have  ordered  them  to  point  out  to  him  the  dangers  to  large 
vessels  in  entering  '  the  Pegu  river  '  and  to  press  for  a  grant  of  the 
Negrais. 

Mention  Lawrence's  '  uneasiness  '  and  refer  for  details  to  '  our 
private  correspondence.'  As  the  post  of  Commander-in-chief  in 
India  and  Major  of  Fort  St.  George  is  important,  and  as  after 
Lawrence's  departure  it  may  be  held  by  a  man  of  different  senti- 
ments, desire  to  know  the  precise  meaning  of  the  Company's  regu- 
lation regarding  military  appointments.  It  says  that  the  Major 
shall  recommend  for  approval  by  the  Governor  and  Council  and 
that  no  officer  shall  be  superseded  without  good  cause.  Suppose 
that  the  right  of  recommending  does  not  imply  the  right  of  absolute 
appointment.  Sometimes  there  may  be  an  officer  of  special  merit . 
but  as  a  general  rule  promotions  out  of  the  ordinary  result  from 
prejudice  or  private  interest.  Consider  that  innovations  of  this 
sort  would  discourage  all  the  officers.  The  question  of  Major 
Kinneer's  rank  in  Council  at  Fort  St.  David.  The  members  of 
subordinate  Councils  are  usually  below  the  rank  of  the  Third-in- 
Council  at  Madras  ;  but  that  should  not  give  the  Major  a  right 
to  manage  Company's  affairs  of  which  he  may  know  nothing  ; 
and  yet  this  has  been  hinted  at.  By  the  existing  orders  the 
Commander-in-chief  sits  as  Third-in-Council  at  Madras  and  debates 
military  affairs.  This  is  very  necessary,  for  the  civilian  members 
neither  have  nor  claim  special  military  knowledge.  However  their 
experience  entitles  them  to  an  opinion.    It  would  be  very  disastrous 


CALENDAR  FOR  1752-1753  185 

in  a  country,  where  officers  are  not  easily  replaced,  to  have  an 
officer  refuse  to  obey  the  orders  of  the  Council.  In  Europe  it  is 
usual  for  soldiers'  pay  to  pass  through  the  hands  of  the  company 
Captains.  Do  not  believe  there  is  any  abuse  in  the  payments 
now;  but '  all  men  are  not  of  the  same  complexion ';  and  abuses 
would  be  more  difficult  if  each  soldier  received  his  pay  at  the  pay 
table.  It  would  be  well  also  if  each  subaltern,  on  being  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  Captain,  contracted  to  serve  for  five  years,  and 
similarly  with  officers  sent  from  Europe.  A  Swiss  Captain, 
Chabbert,  recently  arrived,  sold  his  company  to  his  Lieutenant 
Gaupp.  Desire  explicit  orders  on  these  points,  so  that  there  may 
be  no  room  for  doubt  or  disobedience. 

Postscript:  Have  already  reported  that  the  Nawab  ordered  the 
fort  at  Covelong  to  be  razed.  When  it  was  being  done,  Father 
Angelo  de  St.  Gertrude,  wrote,  styling  himself  the  imperial  resident 
at  Covelong,  and  laying  claim  to  the  fort,  on  the  pretext  that  the 
ground  had  been  granted  to  the  Emperor.  It  was  replied  that  this 
was  the  Nawab's  affair  and  that  we  could  not  interfere. 

Abstract    of   Despatch   from  Thomas    Saunders,    etc., 
to  the  Company.    Fort  St.  George.  March  21,  1753. 

RECEIVED  OCTOBER  9,  1753.     [Coast  and  Bay  Abstracts,  Letters 
Received,  Vol.  5,  pp.  389 — 391.    (India  Office  transcript).] 

This  goes  by  the  Bombay  Castle.  Arrivals  of  the  Godolphin, 
Chesterfield,  Pelham  and  Porto  Bello.  Other  shipping  news.  Sub- 
mit Captain  Browne's  claim  for  demurrage.  Have  laden  on  her  on 
half-freight  600  bags  of  saltpetre.  Received  4,233  bags  of  rice 
from  Bengal.  Its  scarcity  is  due  to  '  black  merchants'  roguery.' 
Received  98  chests  of  gunpowder  by  the  Chesterfield. 
Indents  of  the  Assay  Master  have  not  been  complyed  with 
and  the  medicines  sent  are  not  proportioned  to  their  num- 
erous garrisons.'  'Captain  Chabbert  on  his  embarking  on  the 
Admiral  Vernon  wrote  an  insolent  letter  .  .  .  There  was 
no  necessity  for  his  asking  to  go  on  a  French  ship,  there  being 
four  designd  from  hence.  His  so  strenuously  persisting  to  go  to 
Pondicherry  appeared  odd  after  Mr.  Dupleix  had  seized  and  still 
detains  a  company  of  Swiss  as  prisoners  contrary  to  Treaty  and 
the  Law  of  Nations.'  '  Swiss  forces  under  Captain  Polier  came 
on  the  Godolphin.  They  are  proceeding  to  St.  David.'  '  Superced- 
ing of  servants  here,  by  placing  those  from  other  settlements  over 
24 


186  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

them,  is  discouraging ;  and  having  studyed  to  merit  favour,  hope 
for  the  same  protection  as  is  showd  to  those  in  Bengal  in  this 
respect.'  '  Captain  Clive  and  Mr.  Orme  were  prevented  embark- 
ing on  the  Admiral  Vernon.  They  now  go  on  the  Bombay  Castle 
with  Mr.  Cornelius  Goodwin,  Mrs.  Cockell  and  Mrs.  Colefax,  also 
Mrs.  Clive.'  '  Indent  enclosd  for  books  for  the  Secretary's  office, 
etc'  'French  have  sent  a  ship  to  Pondicherry  with  a  Coast  cargo 
from  China,  being  unable  to  provide  teas  for  her.  Some  Military 
came  on  her  and  two  others  have  sailed  from  thence  with  Coast 
and  Bay  cargos  for  the  Islands.'  The  Church  wardens  request 
books  sent  home  to  be  searched  regarding  a  debt  of  1,000  Pags. 
'  under  the  head  of  East  India  bonds,'  and  another  of  89%  Pags. 
from  Henry  Newman.  '  Charterparty. — An  explanation  of  it 
desired  as  to  limitation  of  the  dispatch  of  ships  from  Bengal  to 
the  Ilth  March  and  from  this  Coast  to  the  nth  February ; 
apprehending  though  this  settlement  is  in  the  Bay  of  Bengal, 
yet  the  proviso  for  not  dispatching  them  thence  before  the  21st 
November  does  not  extend  hither,  from  custom  and  the  danger 
of  keeping  them  so  late  in  that  month.'  Have  equipped  the  Prince 
George  with  guns,  etc.,  obtained  by  Captains  Browne  and  Carter. 
'  Charles  Maul,  surgeon,  James  Abbott,  carpenter,  and  John  North, 
gunner,  discharged  by  Captain  Browne,  as  requested,  to  remain  in 
India.  The  necessity  of  the  Company's  particular  service  only 
induced  them  to  it  and  is  a  measure  they  will  not  promote.' 
1  Captain  John  Scrimsour  died  the  1 5th  instant,  and  Lieutenant  Wood 
of  the  Train  the  31st  January.  The  latter  is  succeeded  by  Mr.  John 
Dickenson.  Promotion  of  Captains  will  be  deferrd  till  expected 
ships  arrive.'  The  invoice  of  the  Bombay  Castle  amounts  to  90,993 
Pags.,  and  diamonds  registered,  92,860  Pags.  The  cash  balance  is 
25,396  current  Pags.  and  10,005  Madras  Pags.  Private  trade  from 
Bengal  amounts  to  18,900  Arcot  Rs.  and  from  Madras  to  1,780  Pags. 
Postscript :  Bills  on  the  Company  for  1,307  Pags.,  and  certificates 
for  2,327  Pags.  on  account  of  the  estate  of  Major  William  Kinneer. 

Abstract  of  Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to 
the  Company.  Fort  St.  George.  March  24,  1753.  Re- 
ceived OCTOBER  15,  1753.  [Coast  and  Bay  Abstracts,  Letters 
Received,  Vol.  5,  pp.  392-393.     (India  Office  transcript.)] 

This  goes  by  the  Chesterfield  which  takes  988  bales.  '  Lieutenant 
Shaw  of  the  Bengal  Artillery  detachment,  having  resigned  his 
commission,  returns  with  his  family.'    '  Lieutenant  Daniel  Pepper 


CALENDAR  FOR  1752-1753  187 

dyed  a  few  days  since  ;  his  rank  entitled  him  to  the  next  vacant 
company.'  '  Artillery  officers  per  Regulations  may  be  promoted 
in  the  other  corps  which  is  likely  to  occasion  great  uneasiness 
among  the  military  officers  and  will  be  a  hardship  on  the  former 
who  then  can  rise  no  higher  than  Lieutenants.  Particular  orders 
desired  that  discontent  may  be  removd.'  The  Chesterfield's  invoice 
amounts  to  100,274  Pags. ;  diamonds  registered,  20,037  Pags. ;  and 
private  trade  from  Bengal,  5,678  Rs.  and  from  Madras  2,166  Pags. 
Captain  Carter's  demand  for  demurrage.  Bills  on  the  Company 
for  130  Pags. 


Abstract  of  Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to 
the  Company.  Fort  St.  George.  April  19,  1753.  re- 
ceived APRIL  6,  1754.  [Coast  and  Bay  Abstracts,  Letters 
Received,  Vol.  5,  pp.  402-403.     {India  Office  transcript.)] 

The  Godolphin  takes  922  bales,  redwood  and  1,200  bags  of 
saltpetre  at  half-freight,  and  proceeds  to  Sumatra  to  complete  her 
tonnage  with  pepper.  The  Chesterfield  sailed  on  February  25.  The 
Prince  George  took  salt,  rice,  27  topasses  and  21  coffree  women  to 
Sumatra,  and  will  return  with  timber  and  planks  from  Batavia  for 
the  works.  On  April  5,  Hunter  proceeded  on  his  expedition  with 
the  Colchester,  Arcot  snow,  Porto  Bello  and  Fortune  sloops,  and  was 
to  meet  the  Cnddalore  at  Vizagapatam.  Thomas  Winter  succeeded 
to  the  command  of  the  Delawar,  vice  Captain  Dominicus  who  died 
at  Galle.  Payment  of  her  repairs  to  the  Dutch  at  Negapatam. 
Advance  to  ships  '  Captains.  Sumatra  affairs.  Have  sent  on  the 
Don  Carlos,  25,000  Pags.  for  Vizagapatam,  and  400  candies  of 
redwood  to  Bengal.  '  Broadcloth  sold  last  October.  The  discount 
of  9  per  cent  expiring  the  20th  instant,  prolonged  it  to  the  last  of 
this  month,  as  the  major  part  had  been  cleard  in  this  interval,  and 
the  remains  likely  to  be  so.  Another  inducement  was  the  small 
stock  of  money  for  the  great  demands  and  necessary  expences.' 
Short  delivery  of  rice  and  jute  rope  from  Bengal  asserted  to  have 
been  due  to  thefts  on  the  boats  at  Calcutta  before,  loading.  These 
allegations  '  seem  probable  from  the  several  instances  of  the  like 
deficiencies  in  many  vessels  from  Bengal  this  season.'  The 
Godolphin's  invoice  amounts  to  70,082  Pags. ;  diamonds  registered, 
9,616  Pags.  The  cash  balance  is  32,052  current  Pags.  and  5  Madras 
Pags.  Certificates  granted  for  722  Pags.  on  account  of  the  estate  of 
Major  William  Kinneer. 


188  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India  House.    October  25,  1752.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  56,  pp.  27 — 30.     {Original  4  pp.)] 

Sent  the  Delawar  to  Madagascar  for  coffrees,  being  assured 
that  they  would  make  good  soldiers ;  as  the  Council  reports 
that  they  are  dreaded  as  much  as  Europeans  by  the  Moors, 
now  send  the  Dragon  (Captain  Henry  Kent)*  to  Madagascar 
for  500  more,  in  the  same  proportion  as  those  by  the  Delawar. 
Head-money  205.  to  the  Captain  and  6s.  Sd.  to  the  Mate.  Also  will 
allow  them  55.  per  head  for  as  many  as  they  shall  assist  the  Swallow 
with  after  completing  their  own  cargo.  55.  head-money  to  the 
Surgeon.  The  Swallow  is  also  sent  to  Madagascar  for  about  300 
coffrees  for  Bombay.  Other  directions  as  per  those  for  the  Delawar. 
Send  a  slave  who  deserted  from  St.  Helena,  having  been  ill-used  by 
the  armourer  under  whom  he  was  employed,  and  who  is  willing  to 
serve  the  Company  anywhere  else. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,   etc. 
East  India  House.  December  15,  1752.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  56,  pp.  31-49  (Original  19  pp.)] 
Cite  despatches  of  the  previous  season.  Acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  despatches,  dated  August  6  and  15,  1751  (received 
February  16),  September  30,  1751  (received  March  12),  October  24, 
1751  (received  May  10),  January  25,  1752  overland  (received 
September  19),  and  February  15,  1752  (received  September  17). 
Suggest  the  possibility  of  sending  further  despatches  by  the 
later  Bombay  ships  which  usually  touch  at  Anjengo  after  the  last 
ships  have  left  Madras.  Have  taken  up  18  ships,  of  which 
6  are  destined  for  the  Coast  and  China,  and  6  for  the  Coast 
and  Bay.  Have  also  fitted  out  the  Company's  own  ships  Dragon 
and  Swallow.  The  Coast  and  China  ships  are  now  under  despatch  ; 
the  Coast  and  Bay  ships  will  sail  about  the  middle  of  January. 
Name  the  China  supercargoes,  the  Secret  Committee,  etc.  Madras 
consignments  by  the  China  ships  to  be  unladed,  and  if  possible 
goods  for  Canton  to  be  put  on  board,  without  loss  of  time. 
Supercargoes  to  be  afforded  all  assistance  and  information, 
especially  about  Quedda.  The  Winchelsea  will  bring  300  pipes 
of  Madeira,  200  for  Madras  and  100  for  Bengal.  Colonel  Scott 
takes  his   passage  on  her,  and  she  is  to  put  in  at  Vizagapatam 

*  Kent's  instructions  form,  pp.  209 — 219  of  Public  Despatches  from    England 
Vol.  56. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1752-1753  189 

on  her  way  to  Bengal,  to  allow  him  to  survey  the  defences.  Usual 
allowance  of  20  pipes  on  the  officers'  privilege.  The  Coast  and 
Bay  ships  carry  no  iron  kintledge,  so  must  receive  their  full  kint- 
ledge  (16  tons  for  every  100  tons  of  charterparty  tonnage)  in 
saltpetre.  Those  despatched  from  the  Coast  are  also  to  receive  the 
usual  quantity  of  redwood,  and  the  rest  of  the  tonnage  is  to  be 
made  up  with  piece-goods  according  to  the  list  of  the  investment. 
If  that  falls  short,  the  cargoes  may  be  made  up  with  saltpetre. 
Surplus  bales  may  be  laded  at  half-freight.  Should  the  charter- 
party  tonnage  be  only  just  made  up,  extra  saltpetre  should  be  laded 
to  cover  the  usual  5  %  wastage  on  that  commodity  to  save  the 
Company  from  having  to  pay  dead-freight.  If  any  ship  has  to  be 
detained,  it  should  be  the  Winchelsea ;  but  hope  none  will  be. 
Importance  of  despatching  ships  in  good  time.  Coast  and  Bay 
ships  may  be  detained  on  the  Coast  if  thereby  they  can  be  des- 
patched home  earlier  than  if  sent  on  to  Bengal.  Measures  for 
prompt  despatch  to  be  concerted  with  Bengal.  Usual  orders  about 
the  over-carriage  of  private  silver,  etc.  No  head-money,  etc.,  to  be 
paid  on  account  of  lascars  sent  back  to  India.  Usual  orders  about 
forwarding  bullion  to  Bengal. 

Have  sent  between  2  and  300  bales  of  woollen  cloth  more  than 
was  indented  for.  Also  210  barrels  of  gunpowder.  A  considerable 
part  of  the  treasure  for  the  Coast  is  sent  in  gold.  Send  a  standard 
set  of  scales  and  weights  for  the  Mint  and  Warehouse.  The  list  of 
the  investment  is  to  be  strictly  complied  with.  As  the  Vizaga- 
patam  and  Ingeram  cloth  has  proved  better  and  cheaper  than  that 
from  Madras  and  Fort  St.  David,  the  former  is  to  be  encouraged 
and  increased ;  the  quality  must  be  maintained  and  the  measure- 
ments must  be — longcloth  36  yards  by  l%  >  salampores  16  yards 
by  1%.  As  a  large  investment  may  be  expected  next  year, 
arrangements  to  be  made  with  Bengal  to  secure  the  necessary 
tonnage,  and  sufficient  saltpetre  must  be  obtained  from  Bengal. 

Country  affairs  seem  improved  with  the  prospect  that  the 
Nawab  may  at  last  be  established  in  his  Government.  Urge  the 
need  of  ending  the  troubles  freeing  the  Company  from  'the  present 
heavy  and  intolerable  expenses,'  and  recovering  the  advances 
made  to  the  Nawab.  Have  appointed  Caroline  Frederic  Scott 
(Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  29th  Foot  and  Aide-de-Camp  to  the 
Duke  of  Cumberland)  Engineer-General.  Insert  a  copy  of  his 
Instructions  which  are  as  follows  : — 

The  principal  object  of  his   appointment   is  the   fortification 
of  Fort  William  ;  orders  regarding  the  same  ;  should  any  settlement 


190  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

be  attacked  Scott  may  proceed  thither  if  he  deems  necessary,  and 
on  his  arrival  he  shall  sit  and  vote  at  all  Consultations  dealing  with 
military  matters.  May  appoint  Inspectors  of  Works,  on  whose 
certificates  the  Paymaster  shall  issue  money.  Materials  to  be 
paid  for  only  on  the  joint-certificate  of  two  Inspectors  counter- 
signed by  Scott,  who,  in  cases  of  irregularity,  has  power]to  demand 
the  Paymaster's  dismissal,  and  himself  to  dismiss  any  other 
person  employed  on  the  works.  Similar  orders  as  to  Robins 
regarding  designs  or  plans.  To  call  at  Fort  St.  David,*  Madras 
and  Vizagapatam  on  his  way  to  Bengal,  and  report  upon  the  works 
there.  If  it  will  not  hinder  finishing  the  works  on  the  Coast, 
Brohier  or  any  of  Robins'  assistants  may  be  taken  to  Bengal. 
Scott  to  draw  pay  of  £400  a  year  as  Engineer-General  and  Major 
at  Fort  William,  with  a  seat  as  Third  in  Council  and  the  usual 
salary  and  allowances  of  that  rank. 

One  of  the  conditions  on  which  the  King  and  the  Duke  of 
Cumberland  gave  Scott  leave  to  proceed  to  India  was  that  he 
should  not  be  put  under  the  orde/s  of  any  officer  of  inferior  rank  ; 
Lawrence  is  not  to  go  to  Bengal  while  Scott  is  there.  Should  any 
accident  befall  Lawrence,  Scott  is  to  have  the  command  of  all 
the  Company's  forces-  While  on  the  Coast,  he  is  to  receive  the 
respect  due  to  his  rank,  distinguished  merit  and  abilities. 

The  works  at  Fort  St.  David  and  Fort  St.  George  are  to  be 
completed  with  all  convenient  speed,  subject  to  Scott's  directions. 
Brohier  (whose  conduct  the  Company  approves  of)  is  to  act  as 
Assistant  Engineer  under  Scott  as  he  did  under  Robins.  As  a 
reward  for  his  services  he  is  to  receive  the  command  of  one  of 
the  Artillery  companies.  Robins  '  young  assistants  are  to  be 
continued  in  the  same  capacity  under  Scott.  120  Swiss  recruits 
are  sent  for  the  two  Swiss  companies  that  sailed  last  year, 
and  60  Protestant  Germans  for  the  Artillery.  Any  ill-treatment 
of  them  on  the  voyage  is  to  be  reported.  Will  also  send  as 
many  English  recruits  as  can  conveniently  be  embarked.  Lewis 
d'lllens  is  to  be  Captain  and  [  ],  a  German  Gentleman, 

Second  Lieutenant,  of  the  Artillery  company  at  Fort  St.  George- 
They  sail  by  the  Edgebaston.  John  Ridge,  John  Caillaud,  and 
William  Lin  sent  out  as  Captains  ;  Daniel  Campbell,  and  John 
Fraser  as  Ensigns  of  Foot,  and  William  Wells  as  Lieutenant  of 

•  Copy  of  a  despatch,  dated  December  15,  1752,  addressed  to  the  Deputy  Gover- 
nor, etc.,  at  Fort  St.  David,  and  directing  them  to  afford  Scott  all  facilities,  forms 
pp.  51 — 51  of  Public  Despatches  from  England,  Vol.  56. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1752-1753  191 

Artillery.  Their  pay  will  commence  from  arrival  and  they  will 
succeed  to  the  first  vacancies  in  their  respective  ranks;  no  addi- 
tional companies  to  be  formed  for  their  accommodation.  Last 
season  permitted  William  Pye  to  proceed  to  Bombay  to  join  the 
Coast  forces  as  a  volunteer;  he  has  held  a  commission  in  the 
King's  service  and  should  be  promoted  if  he  merits  it. 

Have  determined  to  have  two  Artillery  companies — one  at 
Fort  St.  George  and  one  at  Fort  St.  David — being  convinced  of  the 
importance  of  that  arm.  Each  company  to  consist  of: — I  Captain 
(£200  a  year);  I  First  Lieutenant  (£100);  I  Second  Lieutenant 
(£90);  I  Third  Lieutenant  (£  90);  6  Sergeants  (2s.  a  day  each);  6 
Corporals  (is.  Sd.) ;  30  Bombardiers  (is.  Sd.) ;  30  Gunners  (is.  6d.) ;  40 
Mattrosses  (is.) ;  2  Drummers  (is.),  d'lllens  is  to  command  the 
company  at  Fort  St.  George  and  Brohier  that  at  Fort  St.  David. 
The  German  subalterns  and  privates  sent  out  with  d'lllens  are  to 
form  part  of  his  company. 

George  Pyne,  Charles  Smith,  Alexander  Dalrymple  and  John 
Davidson  appointed  writers  on  the  Coast.  As  the  Council  re- 
ported that  Palk  was  on  his  way  home,  the  chaplaincies  on  the 
Coast  were  filled  up ;  he  has  therefore  been  appointed  to  Bombay 
with  leave  to  remove  to  either  Madras  or  Calcutta  in  the  event  of 
a  vacancy,  but  will  be  junior  to  the  chaplains  already  at  those 
stations. 

Supplement:  The  German  Artillerymen  have  been  detained 
by  contrary  winds  and  may  not  be  able  to  sail  by  the  Edgebaston. 
Send  special  shears  for  cutting  copper-plates  ;  artificers  at  Madras 
to  be  encouraged  to  use  them.  Scott  has  been  directed  to  take 
a  careful  survey  of  all  artillery  and  stores. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India  House.    January  24,  1753.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  56,  pp.  53—77  (Original  25  pp.)] 
Acknowledge  the  receipt  on  December  24*  of  the  follow- 
ing despatches  : — Generals  of  February  24  and  July  5,  1752 ; 
Separate  letter  of  July  5,  letter  from  Saunders  and  Cockell  of 
July  5,  letters  from  Lawrence  of  June  II,  from  Kinneer  of  June  30, 
from  Brohier  of  July  6,  and  from  the  Fort  St.  David  Council  of 
July  8.     The  despatch  of  shipping.     Now  despatch  the   Coast   and 


*  According  to  the  letter  of  Secretary  James  to  Saunders,  etc.,  dated  December  29, 
1752  {Public  Despatches  from  England,  Vol.  56,  j>.  91),  these  despatches  were  received 
on  December  27. 


192  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Bay  ships,  which  will  land  their  passengers,  etc.,  at  Madras  and 
take  in  rupees  in  exchange  for  bullion  for  Bengal.  Silver  to  be 
coined  with  all  promptitude.  As  usual  now,  the  Madras  consign- 
ments have  been  sent  by  the  China  ships  ;  but  the  disposal  of  the 
Coast  and  Bay  ships  (though  they  carry  no  goods  for  Madras  and 
are  consequently  consigned  to  Bengal)  is  to  be  determined  by  both 
Madras  and  Bengal  in  concert.  Have  rebuked  Bengal  for 
thwarting  the  Madras  scheme  for  employing  the  Scarborough  and 
Hardwicke  in  country  voyages.  Complain  of  the  delay  in  landing 
broadcloth  and  stores  sent  for  Bengal  by  the  Augusta  in  1749- 
Though  the  Madras  Council  procured  much  better  terms  for 
freight  voyages  than  were  got  in  Bengal,  yet  4,000  Pags.  (for 
which  the  Warwick  was  let  out  for  a  voyage  to  China  and  back) 
does  not  quite  cover  the  amount  of  the  demurrage ;  something 
more  should  have  been  got,  especially  considering  the  risk  of  her 
not  returning  in  time  to  be  sent  home  the  following  season.  Other 
ships  were  let  out  for  precisely  the  demurrage  rates;  urge  that  as 
much  as  possible  more  than  that  should  be  secured. 

Sent  by  the  China  ships  for  Madras  £88,650  in  gold ;  now  send 
£12,167%  ;  hope  this  will  answer  the  Council's  expectations.  All 
the  silver  now  sent  is  consigned  to  Bengal,  but  so  much  may  be 
detained  as  is  absolutely  necessary,  according  to  the  Council's 
estimate  of  the  investment  and  expenditure  of  the  coming  year, 
which  estimate  is  to  be  sent  home.  Positive  orders  to  sell  all 
goods  at  public  outcry.  Hope  '  the  late  turn  in  our  affairs '  will 
enable  the  merchants  to  carry  on  their  trade  and  clear  the  woollens 
they  had  bought  but  left  lying  in  the  Warehouse.  Council  considers 
that  a  greater  quantity  of  woollens  than  is  indented  for  cannot  be 
sold ;  the  excess  this  year  is  but  250  bales,  and  for  the  sake  of 
encouraging  the  British  manufactures,  it  is  better  to  be  rather 
overstocked  than  want  for  a  bale.  The  English  assay  of  the  China 
gold  received  by  the  Warwick  agrees  pretty  well  with  that  made 
at  Madras.  Approve  the  punishment  of  persons  making  base 
coin  at  Fort  St.  David.  Send  some  avoirdupois  weights  to  serve 
as  a  standard  by  which  to  regulate  the  weights ;  consider  that 
Smyth  King's  regulating  the  weights  at  Madras  so  that  the 
hundredweight  was  3  lb.  heavier  than  a  set  brought  out  by  the 
ships,  looks  more  like  fraud  than  accident ;  regret  that  this  was 
only  discovered  after  he  had  left  the  service ;  the  conduct  of  the 
covenated  servants  must  be  frequently  enquired  into.  Are 
pleased  to  observe  that  the  coffrees  behave  well.     Have  complied 


CALENDAR  FOR  1752-1753  193 

fully  with  the  indent  for  small  arms  and  military  stores.  In 
regard  to  the  complaint  that  many  muskets  are  defective,  the 
tradesmen  say  this  is  too  general  a  charge  to  answer ;  future 
defects  must  be  precisely  specified.  Indents  for  iron  and  steel  for 
use  should  show  the  purpose  for  which  these  are  intended. 
Two  cases  of  cloth  omitted  in  last  year's  invoices.  Redwood  to 
be  provided  early  for  the  China  ships.  As  Brohier  reports 
gunpowder  can  be  made  better  and  cheaper  at  Madras  than  else- 
where in  India,  a  power-mill  may  be  set  up  ;  what  more  is  needed 
should  be  got  from  Bombay  or  Calcutta  ;  it  is  cheaper  at  the  latter ; 
it  is  too  dangerous  to  send  large  quantities  from  Europe.  The 
800  copper  hoops  stolen  are  not  to  be  written  off  till  the  matter 
has  been  enquired  into. 

The  investment  received  by  the  last  shipping  was  as  large  as 
could  reasonably  be  expected.  Trust  that  the  turn  in  affairs  will 
have  restored  tranquillity  to  the  country  ;  as  soon  as  that  comes 
to  pass,  the  quality  of  cloth  should  be  improved  and  prices  reduced  ; 
last  season's  cloth  was  debased  in  fabric ;  it  should  be  remembered 
that  trade  profits  afford  the  only  means  of  meeting  the  heavy 
expenses  on  the  Coast.  The  Northern  investment  is  to  be  en- 
couraged. Leave  it  to  the  Council's  discretion  to  choose  responsible 
merchants  to  contract  with.  As  there  is  no  longer  an  excess  of 
shipping  in  the  East,  revoke  the  orders  permitting  the  acceptance 
of  turned-out  cloth,  as  this  tends  to  debase  the  manufacture.  Sent 
a  considerable  amount  of  gold  on  the  last  ships  ;  now  send  more, 
and  will  continue  to  do  so  as  long  as  may  be  necessary. 
Merchants'  balances  to  be  kept  within  reasonable  limits. 
Approve  the  Armenians  being  prevented  from  importing  Northern 
cloth  of  the  Company's  sortments  and  some  of  it  being  taken  on 
the  Company's  account. 

As  Dupleix'  schemes  tended  so  much  to  the  destruction  of 
English  trade,  approve  the  measures  taken  to  oppose  them ;  hope 
the  recent  success  has  permitted  a  secure  and  honourable  peace. 
Have  submitted  to  His  Majesty  the  reports  received  from  Madras 
regarding  the  French  plans,  and  pointed  out  the  impossibility  of 
even  keeping  a  footing  on  the  Coast  if  they  are  not  checked. 
Dupleix'  long  letter,  which  the  Council  says  is  full  of  falsities,  was 
also  sent  to  the  Company  by  Dupleix  through  the  hands  of  the 
French  Company  ;  hope  to  receive  shortly  the  Council's  observa- 
tions on  it,  so  that  it  may  be  seen  wherein  those  falsities  consist. 
Continue  to  approve  the  measures  taken  against  the  French  ;  but 
25 


194  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

hope  the  disputes  may  soon  meet  an  honourable  end ;  the  Council's 
prudence  and  the  Commanders'  behaviour  have  merited  success; 
but  the  accidents  of  war  and  the  uncertainty  of  allies  might  bring 
the  Company  to  ruin  by  defeat ;  and  as  the  French  would  probably 
not  have  shown  the  moderation  displayed  by  the  English  after 
their  success,  we  have  more  at  stake  than  they.  In  consequence  of 
Cockell's  death,  the  Committee  is  to  consist  of  the  President,  the 
Second  in  Council,  and  Lawrence.  There  are  rumours  that  5  or 
6  men-of-war  have  sailed  from  Brest  for  India  ;  but  cannot  believe 
the  French  contemplate  a  direct  breach  of  the  peace. 

Empower  Scott  to  approve  or  modify  Brohier's  plans  for  the 
defences  of  Fort  St.  George.*  In  case  of  Scott's  death,  Brohier,  of 
whom  the  Company  thinks  highly,  is  to  execute  his  plans  with  all 
despatch.  The  Madras  defences  are  of  great  concern  to  the 
Company,  and  Scott  should  devote  to  them  all  the  time  he  can 
spare  from  other  matters.  Barracks  for  the  troops  should  be  set 
about  without  delay,  as  also  all  necessary  buildings  and  repairs. 
The  Madras  works  will  cost  much  more  than  Robins  estimated, 
owing  to  the  impossibility  of  using  '  sodwork '  ;  they  must  be 
executed  with  the  greatest  economy.  Will  '  properly  consider ' 
Brohier  when  he  has  made  further  progress  with  the  works,  as  also 
such  of  his  assistants  as  may  merit  it.  The  materials  of  the 
Portuguese  church  should  be  sold ;  the  square  adjoining  it  may  be 
converted  into  officers'  quarters  or  put  to  any  other  suitable  use. 
Need  a  report  on  the  reasonableness  of  giving  '  a  gratification'  for 
the  church  and  square  before  deciding  about  this  matter.  Consider 
that  a  reasonable  assessment  should  be  made  on  the  inhabitants 
towards  meeting  the  cost  of  the  fortifications.  As  large  new 
spaces  of  ground  will  now  be  available  for  building,  grants  should 
only  be  made  on  condition  of  a  reasonable  quit-rent.  Approve  the 
prohibition  of  vessels  lading  or  unlading  at  St.  Thome  instead  of 
at  Madras.  As  the  Black  Town  will  have  to  be  almost  entirely 
rebuilt,  separate  quarters  should  be  assigned  to  the  several  castes. 
Cannot  find  the  result  of  the  enquiry  into  the  charges  for  building 
the  redoubt  at  St.  Thome  ;  expect  to  hear  that  justice  has  been 
done  if  there  was  any  fraud.  Desire  an  exact  account  of  all 
ordnance  and  stores  on  the  Coast.  Urge  the  importance  of  increas- 
ing the  revenues  by  encouraging  trade  and  settlement. 


*  Copy  of  a  short  letter  to  Scott  to  this  effect,    dated  January  24,    1753,  forms  p.  251 
of  Public  Despatches  from  England,  Vol.  56. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1752-1753  195 

Trust  that  the  writers  superseded  last  year  by  the  factors  then 
sent  out  will  not  consider  it  a  hardship,  as  so  few  covenanted 
servants  were  '  of  an  age  fit  for  immediate  business.'  Servants 
remiss  in  their  duty  to  be  called  to  account;  'the  expensive 
manner  of  living  and  the  strong  bias  to  pleasure'  generally 
prevalent  must  be  checked.  Junior  servants  to  be  encouraged  to 
learn  Persian  and  other  Country  languages  ;  those  who  succeed  in 
this  shall  be  particularly  rewarded  ;  send  some  Persian  books. 
Are  greatly  displeased  at  Goodere's  resignation  without  giving 
notice  or  adjusting  his  accounts;  but  regarding  the  order  to  attach 
his  effects,  he  denies  being  indebted  to  the  Company  nor  does  it 
as  yet  appear  otherwise.  In  future  every  servant  from  the 
Governor  downwards  is  to  give  12  months'  notice  of  his  intention 
to  quit  India  (except  with  the  Company's  special  leave),  and  this 
is  to  be  publicly  advertised  so  that  all  creditors  may  have  due 
warning  ;  free  merchants  must  give  a  month's  notice.  So  large  an 
allowance  as  £100  a  year  should  not  have  been  assigned  to 
Fairfield  as  Sub-Accountant  without  the  Company's  knowledge  ; 
but  its  continuance  is  sanctioned  in  view  of  the  importance  of  the 
office  and  Fairfield's  assiduity.  Palk  is  to  proceed  to  Bombay 
unless  a  vacancy  has  occurred.  In  the  absence  of  the  Second,  the 
Major  (as  Third  of  Council)  takes  place  of  all  the  rest ;  Starke 
should  not  have  been  given  precedence  of  Heron  during  Cockell's 
absence;  but  on  an  actual  vacancy  arising,  the  Fourth  in  Council 
rises  to  be  Second.  The  amounts  due  have  been  paid  in  London 
to  the  representatives  of  the  following  deceased  persons  :— Charles 
Dobbins  (16  Pags.) ;  Borlace  Stacey  (23  Pags.) ;  Richard  Turner 
(581  Pags.)  ;  Charles  Nicholls  (1,337  Pags.)  ;  George  Swinfen  (431 
Pags.).  Errors  in  the  Madras  accounts.  The  books  as  kept  before 
1746  are  to  serve  as  models.  As  some  of  the  old  books  of  Standing 
Orders  are  lost,  desire  copies  of  such  as  remain  and  a  collection  of 
the  Company's  Standing  Orders  since  the  loss  of  Madras.  The 
book  of  Standing  Orders  is  always  to  lie  on  the  table  whenever 
Council  meets.  Consultations  must  be  indexed  and  margined,  and 
be  sent  home  by  each  conveyance.  Monson  has  promised  to  pay 
the  3,568  Pags.  owed  by  him  to  the  church-wardens  of  St.  Mary's. 
The  French  Jesuits  in  China  alledge  that  the  20,000  Pags.  deposit- 
ed by  them  in  the  Company's  cash  at  Madras  in  1727  is 
irredeemable  ;  however  the  papers  show  that  this  is  not  so  ;  the 
bond  is  to  be  paid  off  with  simple  interest  from  the  time  when  the 
last  payment  was  made,  which  is  said  to  be  March,  1746.     Have 


196  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

already  paid  off  demands  made  for  money  lent  to  Morse,  etc.,  at 
Madras  before  that  place  was  taken ;  direct  the  following  claims 
to  be  paid  off  with  simple  interest  provided  Council  is  assured  of 
their  validity  : — bonds  for  2,000  Pags.  from  the  Church-wardens, 
dated  September  30,  1746;  bond  for  4,368  Pags.  from  the  Corpora- 
tion Stock  of  the  same  date  ;  bond  for  5,000  Pags.  from  Peter 
Boileau  of  October  1746  ;  certificate,  dated  November  2,  1746,  for 
sundries  supplied  by  Robert  Sloper  to  the  Storekeeper,  377 
Pags. ;  and  a  bond  of  the  same  date  for  2,000  Arcot  Rs.  from 
Solomon  Salomons.  Directions  for  securing  valid  releases  for 
these  bonds.  Order  an  examination  into  the  claims  of  John  Gray 
for  2,567  Pags.  and  of  Peter  Dencker  for  916  Pags.  Have  settled 
accounts  with  Morse*  and  got  a  release  which  will  bar  any  action 
on  his  bonds  for  a  total  of  50,000  Pags.  There  is  a  claim  on  behalf 
of  the  late  Thomas  Eyre  for  3,562  Pags. ;  but  Morse's  cash  account 
shows  that  he  was  advanced  4,000  Pags.  on  August  31,  1746,  which 
item  is  omitted  in  Eyre's  account ;  Morse  says  this  advance  was 
made  by  transfer  from  Eyre's  account  as  Sea-Customer  to  his 
account  as  Paymaster ;  order  an  enquiry. 

Lewis  d'lllens,  Captain,  George  Hilfer,  Second  Lieutenant,  and 
about  70  subaltern  officers  and  private  Germans,  now  take  their 
passage.  William  Wells  has  been  ordered  to  Bengal  instead  of 
the  Coast.  Thomas  Alfred  and  John  Francis  Paschoud  to  be 
appointed  to  the  first  vacancies  as  Lieutenants  of  Artillery  after 
their  arrival.  Send  30  Swiss  recruits.  Send  60  recruits  for  Bengal 
who  should  not  be  detained  unless  under  absolute  necessity ; 
advise  the  return  of  the  Bengal  detachment  now  on  the  Coast  as 
the  Bengal  garrison  is  very  weak.  Are  much  concerned  to  hear  of 
Roman  Catholics  being  found  among  the  Swiss  companies ;  all 
precautions  were  taken  to  prevent  this ;  believe  Chabbert  and 
Schaub  knew  nothing  of  it.  Are  assured  that  all  Swiss  troops  in 
foreign  service  have  the  privilege  of  holding  their  own  courts- 
martial,  and  that  this  is  the  reason  of  the  good  discipline  for  which 
they  are  famous  ;  if  Chabbert  and  Schaub  had  been  allowed  this 
privilege,  the  desertion  of  the  Swiss  would  probably  have  been 
avoided  ;  it  is  in  future  to  be  allowed.  Care  is  to  be  taken  to  prevent 
quarrels  between  the  Swiss  and  the  English  ;  good  service  can 
be  expected  from  the  former  only  if  they  are  well-treated.    Kinneer 


*  Morse's  account  with  the  Company,  showing  a  balance  due  to  him  of  51,395 
Pags.  (signed  by  him,  and  receipted  by  Richard  Benyon  and  Aaron  Franks  acting  as 
his  attornies),  forms  pp.  246-247  of  Public  Despatches  from  England,  Vol.  56. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1 752-1753  107 

reports  difficulties  because  some  of  the  Swiss  Second  Lieutenants 
hold  commissions  of  an  earlier  date  than  some  of  the  First  Lieute- 
nants ;  in  future  date  of  commission  is  to  determine  the  rank  only  of 
officers  of  the  same  grade.  Kinneer  requests  that  £100  a  year  may 
be  paid  by  the  Company  to  his  family  in  England  out  of  his  salary  ; 
this  practice  was  laid  aside  many  years  ago  as  inconvenient ; 
Kinneer  in  future  must  remit  money  to  his  family  by  the  Com- 
pany's bills  or  certificates  ;  meanwhile  have  advanced  £25.  Cap- 
tain John  de  Morgan's  pension  of  25  Pags.  a  month  may  be 
continued  in  consideration  of  his  long  services  and  inability  to 
support  his  large  family.  Approve  the  steps  taken  to  suppress  the 
mutinous  spirit  among  the  officers,  especially  sending  Lieutenant 
Hockettto  England;  hope  that  Killpatrick  will  show  gratitude  for 
the  lenience  he  has  been  treated  with.  The  Company's  esteem  for 
Lawrence  has  been  increased  by  the  alacrity  with  which  he  took 
command  of  the  expedition  to  Trichinopoly  on  his  arrival,  and  by 
his  soldier-like  conduct  there.  Clive  maybe  assured  of  the  Com- 
pany's gratitude,  for  his  courage  and  conduct  to  which '  the  late 
favourable  turn  in  affairs  has  been  greatly  owing.'  Also  acknow- 
ledge the  merit  of  de  Gingens  and  the  other  officers  who  have 
shown  their  ability  and  courage.  Desire  to  know  why  no  answer 
was  returned  to  the  Company's  orders  regarding  Thomas  Heath. 
If  he  is  unable  or  unwilling  to  serve  under  Scott  or  Brohier,  he 
is  to  be  sent  home.  The  King  has  granted  a  new  Charter  for  the 
administration  of  justice ;  a  separate  despatch  deals  with  it. 
Have  advanced  d'lllens  £250,  to  be  repaid   within  2  years. 

Separate    Despatch  from    the    Company    to    Thomas 
Saunders,  etc.   East   India  House.    January  24,  1753. 

[Public  Despatches  from  England,  Vol.  56,  pp.    255 — 266  {Original 
12  pp.)] 

Counsel  advised  that  the  capture  and  possession  of  Madras  by 
the  French  abolished  the  powers  granted  to  the  Mayor's  Court  by 
the  Charter  of  1726.  His  Majesty  has  accepted  the  surrender  of 
that  Charter  and  granted  a  new  one  which  amends  the  defects  dis- 
covered by  experience  in  the  old.  Now  send  an  exemplification  of 
the  new  Charter  under  the  great  seal,  with  two  written  copies  of  it 
and  of  the  surrender  of  the  old  one.  The  latter  takes  effect  within 
30  days  of  the  receipt  of  the  new  Charter  at  Madras.  A  Court  is 
erected  consisting  of  a  Mayor  and  9  Aldermen.  These  are  to 
assemble  on  the  first  Tuesday   in  every  December  and  nominate 


I98  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

two  persons,  one  of  whom  shall  be  chosen  by  the  President  and 
Council  as  Mayor  for  the  ensuing  year,  from  December  20.  Vacan- 
cies among  the  Aldermen  to  be  filled  up  by  the  President  and 
Council  ;  persons  refusing  to  serve  shall  pay  a  reasonable  fine ;  all 
vacancies  to  be  filled  before  the  Aldermen  proceed  to  the  election 
of  a  Mayor.  The  Court  has  power  to  determine  all  civil  suits  arising 
within  their  jurisdiction  except  those  between  Indians  and  those 
under  the  value  of  5  Pags.  If  the  Mayor  or  any  Alderman  is 
interested  in  a  suit,  he  shall  not  sit  or  act  as  a  Judge  ;  in  suits 
where  the  Judges  are  equally  divided,  the  Mayor  (or  in  his  absence 
the  senior  Alderman)  shall  have  a  casting  vote.  The  President  and 
Council  to  choose  a  Sheriff  for  the  ensuing  year  on  the  first 
Tuesday  in  December.  The  Court  shall  examine  Christians  upon 
oath,  Quakers  upon  affirmation,  and  Indians  according  to  caste 
custom.  Provision  is  made  for  suits  against  the  Mayor  and  Sheriff 
and  for  the  Company  to  sue  and  be  sued.  All  effects  of  suitors 
ordered  into  Court  are  to  be  deposited  in  the  Company's  cash, 
where  they  shall  remain  subject  to  the  orders  of  the  Court ;  a 
covenanted  servant  is  to  be  appointed  to  keep  account  of  the  same 
under  the  title  of  Accountant-General.  The  Court  is  empowered 
to  frame  Rules  of  Practice  and  appoint  clerks,  etc.,  subject  to  the 
Company's  approval ;  and  the  Company  has  power  to  make  rules 
for  the  better  administration  of  justice.  Fees  payable  are  to  be 
fixed  by  the  Court  and  Council.  Appeals  lie  to  the  President  and 
Council ;  and  further  appeals  to  the  King  in  Council  in  causes  over 
1,000  Pags.  in  value. 

A  Court  of  Requests  is  established  to  hear  all  suits  to  the  value 
of  5  Pags.  and  under;  the  President  and  Council  name  the  first 
Commissioners,  and  on  the  first  Thursday  in  every  December  half 
the  Commissioners  go  out  and  an  equal  number  must  be  named  in 
their  stead.  The  President  and  all  Members  of  Council*  are 
appointed  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  Commissioners  of  Oyer  and 
Terminer,  and  Gaol  delivery.  All  proceedings  (civil  and  crimi- 
nal) depending  on  the  arrival  of  the  Charter  are  to  be  continued 
under  the  new  Charter.  The  Charter,  and  all  orders  the  Company 
may  give  under  it,  are  to  be  studied  and  obeyed.  The  oaths  are  to 
be  taken  and  any  vacancies  filled  up  within  30  days  of  the  receipt 
of  the  Charter.     Vacancies  are  to  be   filled  with  such  covenanted 


*  Under  the    Charter  of  1726,  the  President  and    five  senior  members    of  Council 
were  made  Justices  of  the  Peace. 


CALENDAR   FOR  1752-1753  199 

servants  as  are  duly  qualified,  and  other  persons  are  to  be  ap- 
pointed only  in  their  default.  When  the  offices  have  been  filled  up 
and  the  oaths  taken,  the  President  and  Council,  with  the  Mayor, 
Aldermen  and  Sheriff,  are  to  proclaim  the  establishment  of  the  new 
Courts,  etc.  The  Mayor,  etc.,  are  also  to  fix  court-days  and  make 
Rules  of  Practice.  The  article  in  theCharter  regarding  the  evidence 
of  Indians  was  inserted  because  it  is  believed  that  certain  castes 
would  not  take  oaths  ;  but  the  weight  of  evidence  given  by  Indians 
upon  affirmation  must  depend  upon  its  intrinsic  probability  and 
the  credit  of  the  witness.  Transmit  an  instrument  obliging  the 
Company  to  be  answerable  for  suitor's  effects  deposited  in  the 
Company's  cash.  Authorise  the  President  and  Council  to  appoint 
an  Accountant-General ;  send  as  models  the  forms  in  which 
receipts,  etc.,  are  given  in  the  Chancery  accounts  with  the  Bank  of 
England.  The  allowances  to  be  made  to  the  Accountant-General 
and  the  Register  of  the  Mayor's  Court  for  keeping  these  accounts 
should  be  proportionate  to  the  trouble  involved ;  desire  the 
Council's  opinion  as  to  what  will  be  reasonable. 

Send  a  copy  of  the  instructions  for  procedure  in  the  various 
Courts,  as  those  sent  out  in  1726  may  have  been  lost.  The  rules 
therein  prescribed  are  to  be  followed  more  exactly  than  hereto- 
fore. For  instance,  bills  of  complaint  and  answers  are  not  to  be 
prolix  or  libellous  ;  attorneys  who  draw  improper  bills,  etc.,  are  to  be 
made  to  amend  them  at  their  own  cost;  special  rejoinders  to  a 
general  answer  are  not  to  be  allowed,  according  to  the  practice 
of  the  English  Courts  of  Equity.  Transmit  a  copy  of  the  despatch 
sent  out  with  the  Charter  of  1726*  together  with  some  law-books.t 
Also  send  copies  of  the  recent  Act  for  the  better  prevention  of 
murder,  action  under  which  may  be  adopted  if  thought  useful. 

The  Court  of  Requests  established  in  imitation  of  the  several 
Courts  lately  set  up  in  English  cities  and  boroughs.  Send  Regu- 
lations drawn  up  by  the  Company  concerning  it.  Officers  of  the 
Court  to  be  few  and  fees  low.  The  Commissioners  should  remem- 
ber that  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duty  may  be  a  blessing  to 
the  people.     Send  copies  of  the  Acts  establishing  similar  Courts  in 

*  Copy  of  this  despatch    (dated  February  17,  1727),  forms  pp    271 — 275  of  Public 
Despatches  from  England,  Vol.   56. 

t  The  list  of  the  packet  {Public  Despatches  from  England,  Vol.  56,  pp.  253-254) 
shows  the  following  :— Cay's  Abridgement  of  the  Statutes, ■>  2  vols.,  fol.  ;  Hawkins' 
Pleas  of  the  Crown  ;  Barlow's  Justice,  fol.  ;  Blackerby's  Justice,  2  vols.  ;  Office  of  a 
Clerk  of  Peace. 


200  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

England,  with  special  instructions  regarding  processes  and  orders 
of  the  Court.  At  first  all  moneys  paid  into  Court  may  be  lodged 
with  the  clerk  ;  should  these  ever  become  considerable,  he  should 
give  security  for  their  safe  custody.  Any  plaintiff  suing  in  the 
Mayor's  Court  for  matter  not  exceeding  5  Pags.  shall  be  allowed 
no  costs. 

Should  experience  bring  to  light  any  defects  in  the  new 
Charter  (for  the  best-concerted  undertakings  often  fall  short  of 
their  institution),  these  should  be  reported  to  the  Company. 


THE   MADRAS  DESPATCHES,    1753-1754. 


ABSTRACT  OF  DESPATCH  FROM  THOMAS  SAUNDERS,  ETC.,  TO  THE 

Company.  Fort  St.  George.  October  29,  1753.  Re- 
ceived MAY  7,  1754.  [Coast  and  Bay  Abstracts,  Letters  Received, 
Vol.  5,  pp.  409—418.     {India  Office  transcript.)} 

Cite  despatch  of  April  19.  Acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
despatches,  dated  December  15,  1752  and  January  24,  1753,  and 
Secretary's  letters  of  December  29,  1752. 

The  China  ships'  movements.     The  Montfort,  Port  field,  Falmouth, 
Egmont,    Elizabeth   and  Dragon   have   arrived   on   the   Coast    and 
proceeded  to  Bengal.     Some  of  the  Falmouth's  crew  were  mutinous. 
The  sloops  Syren  and  Sea  Horse  built  at  Bombay,    being  for  the 
Bengal  river  service,  have  proceeded  thither.     The  Prince  George 
will  be  sent  to  Sumatra.    Other  shipping  news.    'Delawar's  cargo. — 
Have  been  obliged  to  supply  with  saltpetre  what  it  wants  in  bales. 
The  Northern  factories  that  used  to  furnish  1,000  or  1,200  bales 
having  sent  in  only  330,  their  precarious  situation  would  not  admit 
of  their  desiring  any  more  than  the  Durrington  to  be  dispatched 
hence   in  January.'      The  new  method  of  investment  started   in 
Bengal  may  give  rise  to  difficulties,  and  it  is  feared  that  4  or  5  ships 
will  be  detained  there  for  want  of  cargo.     It  is  unreasonable  of 
Bengal   to   expect   2  of  their  ships  to  be  employed  entirely    by 
Madras  so  late  in  the  season,  without  offering  to  provide  any  of  the 
the  capital  needed  for  their  employment.     In  future  to  prevent  loss 
by    demurrage,    both    Bengal  and    Madras    should   co-operate  in 
providing  mixed  cargo  for  such  ships.     '  Freights  offered  for  the 
Scarborough  and  Hardwicke  must  be  allowed  very  large  by  those 
conversant  in  the  trade  of  India  and  were  higher  than  what  usually 
paid  in  Bengal.     Warwick's  China  freight  was  proportioned  thereto 
and  to  the  Royal  Guardian's  formerly.     16  or  18  per  cent  respond- 
entia on  these  voyages  exposes  them  often  to  loss.'    Tonnage  on 
hand  may  be  employed  in  bringing  rice  from  Bengal  or  timber  and 
plank  from  Pegu.     '  Ships  importing  at  foreign  places  to  the  south- 
ward having  greatly  affected  the  revenues,  instances  were  thereupon 
made  to  the  Bay  in  this  respect  who  urge  the  reaping  up  an  obsolete 
order,  the  troubles  in  this  country  and  goods  laying  unsold  for  many 
years  ;  reasons  given  for  the  insufficiency  of  those  allegations,  as 
26 


202  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

well  as  the  propriety  of  increasing  the  Company's  rather  than  the 
revenues  of  foreigners.  An  instance  given  of  a  cargo  of  rice  sold 
at  Pondicherry  from  the  Britannia,  Captain  Widdrington,  and  a 
second  contracted  for  though  he  was  advised  a  better  price  would 
be  given  at  Fort  St.  David.  More  remarks  of  this  kind  could  be 
offered.  They  hope  for  the  recommendation  of  their  views  merely 
for  the  increase  of  the  Company's  revenues'.  Advances,  etc.,  to 
Captain  Winter  of  the  Delawar.  Enclose  an  account  of  the  private 
trade  landed  this  season  from  the  Europe  ships. 

Small  deficiencies,  etc.,  in  treasure  and  gold.  Have  been  obliged 
to  retain  32  chests  of  Bengal  treasure.  Have  received  1,000  barrels 
of  gunpowder  from  Bombay  and  SO  chests  from  Bengal.  The 
latter  was  fit  only  for  salutes.  'Gold  sent  was  very  serviceable. 
Request  the  continuance  of  that  consignment.'  '  Slaves.— 167 
received  per  Dragon,  70  whereof  were  supplied  from  the  Swallow. 
Captain  Kent  has  been  paid  commission  on  the  whole,  but 
Mr.  Morgan  abated  5  5.  each  on  the  latter.  The  Doctor  has  been 
allowed  headmoney  as  orderd.  The  men  are  trained  to  the 
military  and  women  sent  to  the  West  Coast.'  '  Diamond  merchants 
are  allowed  to  send  their  consignments  to  Bengal.  Custom  and 
consulage  having  been  demanded  there  a  second  time,  certificates 
have  been  granted  of  the  payment  of  those  duties  here,  to  Messrs 
Walsh  and  Vansittart  to  exempt  them  from  a  second  charge  which 
they  have  before  paid  at  both  [?]  places. '  Sa  le  of  the  remains  of  the 
Madagascar  cargoes  by  the  Dragon  and  Delawar.  '  Broadcloth 
medleys  received  for  3  years  are  all  mildewed  though  cases  and 
package  seem  good.'  '  Sugar  of  the  new  project  from  Fort  Marl- 
bro. — A  small  parcel  receivd  appeard  neat  and  good  and  sold  at 
16  Pags.  per  candy,  being  then  the  price  of  the  best  Batavia 
sortment.'  Captain  Winter  complained  justly  that  the  redwood 
sent  aboard  his  ship  was  bad.  It  was  bought  in  Floyer's  time. 
'Arms  designed  for  Bengal. — Their  necessities  have  urged  them  to 
land  the  greatest  part  here-'  '  Mint.— Directions  given  for  observing 
the  nicest  exactness  in  it  with  regard  to  the  standard  of  coins. 
Some  dollars  now  sent  (with  the  musters  of  gold  and  silver)  to  prove 
that  silver  is  annually  debased.  It  is  requested  the  bullion  yearly 
sent  may  be  assayed.'  '  Weights  and  scales  have  been  regulated. 
Copper  hoops  really  were  stolen,  not  embezzled.  '  Timber  and 
plank  for  the  fortifications  per  Delawar  and  Prince  George  from 
Batavia  is  cheap.  The  latter  is  orderd  thither  again  for  another 
parcel  after  leaving  the  West  Coast.'     Copper  sold  at  90  Pags.; 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753-1754  203 

lead  at  II  Pags.  6  fms.;  and  iron  at  13  Pags.  a  candy.    'Broadcloth 
sold  last  year  ;  several  bales  laying  in  the  warehouse  till  paid  for, 
being   damaged  by   the   storm   and  rejected   by   the   purchasers, 
agreed  to  resell  the  same.'     '  Broadcloth. — 285  bales  sent  more  than 
indented  for.     All  endeavours  shall  be  used  to  promote  the  vend  of 
it.     Last  year's  parcel  though  all  sold,  mostly  remains  in  the  place. 
The  prices  arefollowd  [?] ;  the  sale  of  what  came  this  year  deferred 
till  January,  believing  it  would  not  go  off.'     '  Madeira  wine,  found 
on  a  survey  to  be  properly  stowd,  had   leaked  %V2  pipes  which  is 
referred  to  the  Court.     What  sent  to  subordinates  fixed  at  60  Pags. 
The  average  price  at  jutcry  here  was  more  than  69  Pags.  per  pipe.' 
'  Warehouses  by  last  year's  late  dispatch  being  cleared  to  18th 
April,  thereby  making  that  season's  more  considerable,  lessens  the 
present  investment  ;  besides  the  effect  the  ravages  of  armies  have 
on  it,  which  before  the  War  were  as  distant  as  Tritchanopoly.     Fort 
St.    David  till    a    few   months    past    blockd    up   from    January  ; 
the   communication    with    Salem,    where    much    cloth    now   lays, 
too   precarious   to   risk    it ;    and    parties    continually    plundering 
about  Chingalaput,  etc.,  have  been  of  great  hurt ;  and  little  cloth 
to    be    got    except    near  Tanjore  ;    all   settlements    here    equally 
affected.'     '  Northern    settlements    wherein    greatest    dependance 
was  had  unexpectedly  fail,   from  the  war  there,  in   900  bales  ;  or 
they  had  not  been  far  short  of  the  usual  tonnage.     The  Residents 
of  Bandarmoulanka  and    Ingeram  give  hopes  of  returns  for  the 
large   supplies   sent   and    if    the    jarring  Country    powers   about 
Vizagapatam  should   agree,  as  there  are   hopes,  it  is  probable  a 
large   parcel  may  offer   towards   the   dispatch    of   another   ship.' 
'  Fine  goods  being  too  dear,  an  abatement  of  5  per  cent  insisted  on 
from  the  contractors  Linga  and  Servannah  Chittees  ;  who  refusing 
the  provision,  offered  to  Tellisinga  and  Gundaveddy  ;  when  the  two 
former's  request  for  being  continued  was  granted,  as  their  exclusion 
might  embarrass  the  provision  of   goods.'     'Chints   orderd  to  be 
made  according  to  those  of  Vizagapatam  remarkable  for  colours ; 
the  cloth  thought  too  course  and  dear  and  painting  ill   done  ;  a 
future  trial  will  be  made.' 

'Colonel  Scott. — On  the  first  notice  of  his  appointment,  plans  of 
the  works  at  St.  David  orderd  to  be  laid  before  him  and  his  direc- 
tions to  be  followed.  He  surveyed  and  approved  them  according 
to  Mr.  Robins'  scheme.  On  viewing  the  fortifications  here,  part 
of  Mr.  Robins'  plan  was  adopted  by  him,  rejecting  fortifying  the 
whole  Black  Town  and  enlarging  the  White  one.     This  will  be  a 


204  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

great  addition  but  very  expensive.  Mr.  Brohier's  letter  hereupon 
referred  to  and  directions  will  be  waited  for,  as  the  works  to  the 
westward  can't  be  finished  before  they  may  be  received.'  '  Bricks 
being  greatly  diminished  in  size,  from  whence  a  large  expense  in 
chunam  arises,  they  are  at  Mr.  Brohier's  instance  ordered  to  be 
made  of  the  standard  size  which  will  be  a  great  saving.'  '  Works 
at  St.  David  much  impeded  by  the  enemys  continuing  so  long 
near  it,  as  well  as  from  the  want  of  such  large  quantities  of  bricks 
and  chunam  as  they  require.'  '  Repairs. — Amount  of  them  swelled 
by  the  ruinous  state  this  place  was  found  in.'  Have  ordered 
changes  in  the  form  of  Brohier's  accounts,  so  that  the  expense  of 
each  building  may  be  distinguished.  '  Barracks. — The  building 
them  deferrd  on  Mr.  Brohier's  opinion  that  when  the  works  are 
finishd  the  properest  place  may  be  fixd  on.  The  Hospital  for  the 
present  answers  this  purpose  and  some  houses  in  the  Pettah  are 
fitted  up  for  the  sick.'  '  Security  of  the  Island. — For  preventing  its 
becoming  a  morass  from  the  freshes  during  the  monsoon  is  a  work 
Mr.  Brohier  has  now  on  hand.  This  arises  from  a  neglect  of  it  for 
several  years.'  The  Portuguese  Church  cost  35,000  Pags.  If 
a  compensation  is  awarded,  it  should  be  to  Padre  Severini. 
Materials  used  or  sold  have  been  credited  to  the  Church.  The 
square  will  be  used  for  officers'  quarters.  '  Confiscated  houses  and 
one  pulled  down  before  loss  of  Madrass. — The  restitution  demanded 
for  them  referrd  to  the  Court.  Mr.  Morse  intimates  retaliation 
was  made  for  those  pulled  down.'  '  Garden  house. — One  purchased 
for  the  Governor  of  Mrs.  Medeiros  for  3,500  Pags.  being  very 
cheap.'  '  Vizagapatam  works  not  having  been  reported  by  Colonel 
Scott,  nothing  can  be  said  thereon.  His  designs  are  reported  to 
differ  from  those  of  Mr.  Robins.'  '  Mr.  Brohier  has  been  desired 
to  wait  the  Court's  promisd  consideration  of  his  services,  on 
desiring  an  allowance  as  Engineer.'  Have  deferred  assessment 
to  pay  for  the  works,  as  they  will  take  some  years  to  complete,  and 
as  the  people  have  not  yet  recovered  from  the  loss  of  Madras. 
'Jagoo. — Chintadre  Pettah  Pagoda  has  been  confirmed  to  him. 
These  religious  edifices,  having  their  foundation  by  Governor's 
dubashes  from  oppression  to  the  enriching  of  worthless  people  that 
would  be  punished  if  they  had  their  deserts,  public  notice  has  been 
given  forbidding  any  more  to  be  built.'  It  was  with  difficulty  that 
Poonamallee  was  let  for  35,000  Pags.,  the  same  as  last  year. 
The  renters  will  be  pressed  for  arrears.  Unserviceable  guns  sent 
home  as  kintledge. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753-T754  205 

'Colonel  Scott. — The  directions  for  his  reception  and  treatment 
here  and  at  the  subordinates  complied  with.  Major  Lawrence  has 
been  acquainted  he  is  not  to  go  to  Bengal  while  the  Colonel  com- 
mands there.  Mr.  Robins'  assistants  remain. — Mr.  Knapton  at  the 
Negrais;  Mr.  Call  at  St.  David;  Mr.  Preston  Lieutenant  at  Arcot ; 
Mr.  O'Hara  gone  with  the  Colonel  to  the  Bay;  and  Mr.  Heath  will 
be  under  his  direction.'  4  Messrs.  Pyne,  Smith,  Dalrymple,  and 
Davidson,  writers,  arrivd  and  employed  suitable  to  their  capacity.' 
'Artillery  companys. — Two  have  been  formed  according  to  order, 
under  Captains  D'lllens  and  Brohier.  A  small  Train  also  at  Vizaga- 
patam  commanded  by  a  Lieutenant.  The  ignorance  and  disobedi- 
ence of  the  Germans  greatly  complained  of.  English  are  greatly  to 
be  preferred  to  Swiss  or  Germans.  The  former  have  many  real 
Frenchmen  among  them.  The  Swiss  are  tryed  by  their  own  officers 
and  enjoy  the  privileges  directed.  Quarrels  between  these  and  the 
English  troops  shall  be  prevented.'  '  Recruits  sent  arrivd  in 
good  health  and  were  well  treated.  Some  disputes  arose  between 
Captain  D'lllens  and  Captain  Vincent.  It  appeard  the  former's 
men  behaved  ill.  By  Mr.  Margas's  report,  this  difference  sup- 
posd  to  arise  from  French  officers  generally  carrying  command 
aboard  ship,  when  on  English  ships  they  are  deemd  passengers 
only.'  '  Captains  D'lllens,  Ridge,  etc.,  officers  arrivd  rank  as 
per  their  brevets.  Lieutenant  Barker  remains  here  ;  and  Lieuten- 
ant Alford  is  gone  to  Bengal  at  Colonel  Scott's  desire.'  'Swiss 
recruits  are  incorporated  in  the  three  companies  of  that  nation.' 
'Recruits  for  Bengal  detained  through  necessity.  They  shall 
be  sent  thither  when  affairs  permit.'  '  Volunteers. — Several 
persons  have  been  entertained  as  such  on  the  necessity  of 
supplying  vacancies  of  officers  with  them  preferably  to  Serjeants. 
The  conduct  of  such  as  have  been  promoted  has  convinced  them 
it  is  a  right  measure.'  '  Mr.  Ardley  from  the  West  Coast  now 
ranks  here,  according  to  his  standing.'  '  Mr.  Charles  Bourchier  is 
taken  into  Council  and  appointed  Rental-General,  Scavenger  and 
Military  Storekeeper.  He  has  desired  to  resign  the  Secretary's 
post  after  this  ship's  despatch.  Mr.  Josias  Dupre  is  to  succeed 
him  and  Mr.  Claud  Russell  to  be  Sub-Secretary.'  '  Mr.  Hopkins 
appointed  Chief  of  Devecottah.  In  his  passage  thither  from 
Vizagapatam,  was  drove  to  Atcheen  and  did  not  arrive  here  till 
lately  where  he  proceeded  immediately  to  his  charge.  '  Mr.  Dawson 
has  had  the  management  there  during  this  interval.'  '  Mr.  Drake 
being  appointed  supravisor  to  the  West  Coast,     Mr.   Pybus  was 


•* 


206  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

named  to  be  Third  of  Council  at  St.  David.     But  the  former  refusing 
to  proceed,  Mr.  Pybus  was  fixt  on  in  his  room ;  and  Mr.  Hugh  Norris 
succeeds  as  Third  at  St.  David  and  Civil  and  Military  Paymaster.' 
'  Officers  dead  since  last  address. — Captain  James  Chace,  Lieuten- 
ants Jas.  Trusler  of  his  wounds,  Jas.  Symmonds,  Hy.  a  Moinichen 
and  William  Wilkie,  killd;  Henry  Munro,  Alexander  Kirk,  killd ; 
Ensigns  Jacob  Crow,  Martin   Harrison  and  Joseph  Clack,  killd; 
Samuel  Melotte  and  William  Holt  died  of  their  wounds  ;  Lieuten- 
ant Hilfer  of   Artillery  killd ;  and  Ensign  Polier,  dead.'     'Captain 
Sanderson    of   the    Bengal   detachment,    at    his    request,   returns 
thither   to    settle   his     affairs.      Lieutenant    Keene's     desire     to 
resign  his  commission  has  also   been  complyed    with.'     '  Military 
promotions : — Lieutenants  Thomas  Grenville   and  John  Grant  to 
companies;  Lieutenant  Charles  Campbell  to    a  Captain-Lieuten- 
ancy ;  Lieutenant  Sampson  Morrice  made  Quartermaster  of  Foot 
at  camp  ;  Ensigns  Christopher   Fisher,  A.  Preston,  Arthur  Nelson 
and   Joseph    Sommers  to    Lieutenancies;   and    Voluntiers,   J.   B. 
d'Apscher,  Jno.  Perceval,   William    Rumbold,  Thomas  Rumbold, 
Jno.  North,  Andrew  Craig,  and   Richard  Black   made   Ensigns  ; 
also  Lieutenant  Pero  of  Artillery  appointed  Captain-Lieutenant 
of    the    Train    at    Fort    Marlbro  ;  Lieutenant    Robert   Revell    of 
Artillery  promoted  as  Quartermaster  of  the  Train   at   camp  ;  and 
Serjeant    William    Matthews    for    his    bravery    made    a    Third 
Lieutenant  of  Artillery.'     '  Pension  of  5  Pags.  a  month  granted  the 
widow  of  Lieutenant  Moinichin,  a  gallant  officer  who  died  bravely 
in  defence  of  Trivady.     She  has  one  child,  is  big   with  another 
and  in  necessity.'     '  Sea-faring  men   being  wanted,  Robert  Todd 
and  James  Bound  allowd  to  stay  in  that  capacity.'     '  John  Palmer 
of    great    merit    and    qualifications,   formerly    a   monthly    writer, 
continued  as   an  assistant  without  pay.     Former  recommendation 
of  him  as  a  writer  strenuously  repeated.     His  petition   enclosed.' 
'  Depravity  of  manners,  profuseness  and  dissolute  behaviour  shall 
be  discouraged  and  resented.'     'Covenant  servants. — A   chearful 
attachment  to  the  Company's  interest  wanting  in  some  of  them. 
This  is  contrary  to  their  covenants  which  oblige  them  to   attend 
wherever  it  shall  be  thought  necessary,  and  is  very  ungrateful.' 
'  Supravisors  for  the   West   Coast. — Mr.     Perceval,   being    newly 
appointed   Mayor,   could   not   proceed    as   such.     Messrs.  Walsh 
and  Drake  were  thereupon   appointed.    The  latter,   after  trifling 
and   prevaricating   for  6  weeks,   declined  on  pretence  of  indis- 
position, which  not  rendering  him  incapable   of  his  duty,  he  is 


CALENDAR  FOR  I753-I754  2°7 

orderd  to  the  Presidency  and  Mr.  Pybus  goes  to  the  West  Coast 
in  his  stead.'  '  Council  in  camp. — Major  Lawrence  esteeming  two 
necessary,  and  it  being  of  the  greatest  inconvenience  to  spare 
more  than  one,  Mr.  Thomas  Cooke  invested  with  this  commission. 
After  giving  insufficient  reasons,  he  scandalously  insisted  on  a 
reward  of  1,000  Pags.  His  obedience  being  on  pain  of  suspension 
insisted  on,  he  proceeds.  They  are  sorry  to  instance  so  mercenary 
a  conduct  instead  of  an  honest  hearty  zeal  for  the  Company's 
service.'  '  Bond  to  Mr.  Powney,  church-warden,  was  burnt. 
Confirmation  thereof  delivered  by  the  church-wardens  in  a  paper 
signed  by  Messrs.  Morse,  Eyre  and  Harris.  The  claim  being 
just,  it  will  be  paid.'  '  Demand  of  3,000  Pags.  with  8  %  interest 
made  on  account  of  the  Charity  school.  That  sum  was  receivd 
7th  May  1746  on  those  terms  as  per  cash  account.  Being  restrained 
paying  other  sums  than  those  mentioned  in  the  letter  of  the 
24th  January  1753,  it  is  referrd  to  the  Court.'  'Bond  to  Joseph 
Fowke,  Mayor  and  Alderman  of  Madrass,  dated  30th  September 
1746,  remains  in  the  Company's  books,  the  present  Corporation 
having  declined  the  receipt  thereof.'  '  Bond  to  the  Church  stock 
from  Mr.  Monson  is  discharged.'  '  Mr.  Eyre,  late  Paymaster  and 
Sea  customer. — The  clearest  statement  of  his  accounts  with  their 
opinion  on  them  is  deferrd  till  January  that  Mr.  Morse  and 
Mr.  Perceval,  the  executor,  may  look  over  them.'  '  Mr.  Eyre. — 
The  balance  of  his  accounts  as  Paymaster  of  Pags.  3,562-15-78 
has  been  refused  Mr.  Perceval,  his  executor.  When  they  have 
scrutinised  into  them,  they  will  give  their  opinion  on  this  demand.' 
1  Mr.  Goodere's  account  currant  will  appear  plainly  on  the 
Vizagapatam  books.  It  was  his  duty  to  have  left  his  station  with 
regular  decency  and  justice  to  his  own  reputation.'  'Debt  from 
Mr-  John  Stratton  on  Vizagapatam  books. — Payment  thereof  has 
been  demanded  of  his  heirs  whose  desire  for  time  to  be  advisd 
whether  it  has  not  been  already  settled  in  England  has  been 
complied  with.  Amount  Pags.  2,592-0-78.'  'Subordinates. — No 
person  hereafter  shall  be  permitted  to  leave  them  without  first 
settling  his  accounts,  and  such  as  succeed,  if  remiss  in  seeing 
it  done,  to  be  responsible.'  'Major  Kinneer. — What  advancd 
in  England  may  be  reimbursd  from  the  certificates  now  sent.' 
'  Peter  Dencker's  demand  seems  just  from  the  accounts  transmit- 
ted; signed  by  Messrs.  Morse,  Monson  and  Harris.'  Maintenance 
of  books,  etc. 

Sumatra  affairs. 


208  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

1  Justices  and  Mayor  and  Aldermen  sworn.  Vacancies  of  the 
latter  named  in  the  Charter  supplied.  Commissioners  of  the  Court 
of  Request  nominated,  officers  of  the  several  Courts  appointed  and 
fees  regulated.  The  Charter  was  publishd  within  30  days  after 
its  receipt.  A  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  was  held  the  first 
instant;  and  the  Courts  of  Record  and  Request  meet  weekly. 
Mr.  William  Perceval  is  Mayor';  Messrs.  J.  Walsh,  S.  Greenhaugh, 
G.  Mackay,  A.  Ross,  A.  Munro,  E.  Edwards,  R.  Fairfield,  J.  Brown- 
ing, and  J.  Smith,  Aldermen.  The  Commissioners  of  the  Court  of 
Requests  are  Messrs.  H.  Norris,  H.  Vansittart,  C.  Turner 
J.  Alexander,  C.  Simpson,  J.  Bourchier,  J.  Munro  and  F.  Taylor.' 
'  Mayor's  Court  expenses. — 600  Pags.  advanced  for  them.  Their 
fund  being  in  cash,  their  monthly  charges  will  be  defrayed.' 
1  Town  Hall  being  tumbled  down  and  no  place  for  the  Court,  orders 
are  waited  for  rebuilding  it.'  '  Commission  fontrying  pirates  of  the 
Fifth  of  His  present  Majesty.  They  request  to  be  informed  whether 
it  is  in  force.' 

Supplement :  '  Redoubt  at  St.  Thome  which  exceeded  Mr. 
Robins'  estimate  considerably ;  Mr.  King,  Paymaster  and  the 
overseer  of  the  work  being  gone  home,  a  survey  of  it  by  Captain 
Brohier  enclosd  makes  this  ill-conducted  work  Pags.  592-32-31 
less  than  it  was  charged  at.  A  large  expense  arose  on  cooly  hire 
for  bricks  that  might  have  been  made  on  the  spot,  but  no  direct 
fraud  appears.'  Requested  Bengal  to  send  a  ship  to  the  Negrais 
to  relieve  the  Colchester,  as  Hunter  considers  that  a  Europe  ship 
should  always  be  with  them.  '  An  organ,  it  is  desired,  may  be 
permitted  to  be  sent  them  and  passage  granted  to  an  organist.' 
'  Permission  money. — They  desire  directions  whether  it  is  to  be 
demanded  for  children  going  to  Europe  for  education.  Passengers 
on  this  ship  are  Captains  DeGingins  and  Clarke,  Mrs.  Cassamaijor 
and  four  children.'  The  Delaivar's  cargo  which  consists  of  1,108 
bales,  saltpetre  and  redwood,  amounts  to  123,227  Pags.;  diamonds 
registered,  99,823  Pags. ;  and  Captain's  private  trade,  2,970  Pags. 
The  cash  balance  on  hand  is  45,759  current  Pags.  and  520  Madras 
Pags. ;  and  in  the  Treasury  13,91,169  Arcot  Rs.  and  10,000  current 
Pags. 

Postcript :  Bills  drawn  on  the  Company  for  5,575  Pags. ;  and 
certificates  for  177  Pags.  on  account  of  the  estate  of  J.  Trenwith, 
1,572  Pags.  for  William  Lefevre's,  1,052  Pags.  for  Samuel  Tat[h] 
am's  and  1,026  Pags.  for  J.  E.  Cooper's  estates. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753-1754  209 

Separate  Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to  the 
Company.    Fort  St.  George.    October  29,  10^3.    [Public     If. 
Despatches   to   England,    Vol.    19,    pp.    52 — 65.    {Copy    13^2    pp.) 
Damaged  in  places.     Also  Coast  and  Bay  Abstracts,  Letters  Received, 
Vol.  5,  pp.  419—422.     (India  Office  transcript.)] 

Have  reserved  political  and  military   affairs  for  separate  treat- 
ment.    Have   just   received    news,  dated   September    20,   of    the 
expedition  to  the  Negrais  :     Hunter  arrived  there  April  26,   and  at 
once  landed   some  of  his  forces.     After  2  or  3  days  he  found  good 
"water  in  the  south-east  of  the  island,  and  cleared  the  ground  there 
for  his    settlement.     But    his   coffrees  mutinied,   seized   arms  and 
ammunition,  and  took  to  the  woods;  10  have  since  been  captured, 
and  most  of  the   others    are    believed   to  have    been    starved  or 
drowned  in  an   attempt  to  escape  to   Pegu.     Hunter  believes  the 
King  of  Pegu's   promises  to  be  dictated  solely   by  his  fear  of  the 
Burmese  Prince,  who  has  a   strong  army  and   is  thought  likely  to 
recover  the  kingdom  ;  nor  has  the  King  of  Pegu  much   influence 
with    his  own  people.      Hunter  desires  that  a  Residency  should 
be    established    at    Persaine,     as  the     principal    settlement.      He 
desires  a  supply  of  men,  etc.,  and  permission  to  leave  the  Negrais 
during  the  sickly  season,  as  his  health  is  bad.     He  has  sent  some 
timber  he  thinks  fit  for  gun-carriages.     The  coffree  mutiny  'which 
we  were  greatly  apprehensive  of  '  will  have  hindered  the  progress  of 
the  buildings  ;  and  the  labourers  must  be  replaced.     Hunter's  diary 
is  too  long  to  be  copied  in  time  to  be  sent  by  this  ship.     The  King 
of  Pegu  was  at  first  hostile  ;  the  settlement  will  doubtless  prejudice 
the  port  of  Syrian  ;  and  as  the  King   cannot  be  trusted,  the  place 
should  be  fortified  and  garrisoned  without  delay.     Then  neither  the 
Burmese  nor  the  Peguans  will  be  able  to  dislodge  us  ;  but  an  open 
rupture  should  be  avoided,  and  our  conduct  should  be  such  as  to 
show  that  we  intend  no  evil  to  the  kingdom.     The  climate  of  the 
Negrais  is  reported  unhealthy, especially  in  the  monsoon  ;  but  as  the 
people  aboard  ships  lying  a  short  way  off  shore  had  neither  fevers 
nor  fluxes,  it  is  thought  that  the   island  may  be   healthy  when 
cleared  of  jungle.     There  is  good  water;  and  plenty  of  turtle  may 
be  had  on  Diamond  island,  a  short  way  off.     As  there   is  no  one 
suitable  to  replace  Hunter,  he  will  be  advised  to  live   at  Persaine 
or  Syrian   during   the    monsoon.     Shall   leave   Hunter    to    decide 
whether  or  not  to  make  Persaine  the  head-quarters.     Will  cultivate 
trade  to  the  utmost ;  but   no  immediate   benefit  can   be  expected. 
Hunter  has  not  yet  been  able   to  ascertain   whether  the  place  is 
27 


2io  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

suited  to  repair  and  careen  large  vessels.  Have  desired  Fort 
William  to  send  a  ship  to  replace  the  Colchester,  with  lascars  and 
work-people,  rice  and  provisions.  Shall  send  30  soldiers  thither, 
and  2  palankins  as  a  present  for  the  King. 

At  the  request  of  the  King  of  Tavoy,  who  fears  the  Dutch 
settlers  who  have  been  attracted  by  the  supplies  of  tin,  Captain 
M'Eachern  hoisted  the  British  colours  there  and  took  formal 
possession,  with  a  grant  of  exclusive  trade  to  the  English.  As  the 
Council  thinks  that  friendship  with  the  King  can  do  no  harm, 
although  the  Company  does  not  trade  thither,  they  have  agreed  to 
his  proposals  with  the  exception  of  sending  military  stores.  The 
place  exports  the  finest  tin,  rice,  ivory,  cardomums,  wax,  etc. 

News  has  been  received,  dated  September  22,  from  Delhi,  that 
the  Vizier  Munsur  Ali  Khan,  has  rebelled  against  the  Emperor, 
Ahmad  Khan  ;  but,  after  plundering  Delhi  of  7  crores  of  rupees, 
the  rebels  have  been  driven  out  of  the  city.  The  Marathas  are 
using  their  claim  to  the  chauth  (which  exceeds  or  falls  short  of  a 
quarter  of  the  revenues  according  to  the  relative  strength  of  the 
parties)  to  interfere  in  these  quarrels.  They  are  plundering  in  most 
parts  of  the  Empire  ;  Balaji  Rao  accompanied  Ghazi-ud-din  to 
Aurangabad  ;  after  Ghazi-ud-din's  death  he  made  peace  with  Sala- 
bat  Jang  on  condition  of  receiving  large  jaghirs,  and  then  marched 
towards  the  Carnatic,  where  (he  assured  the  Governors  of  both 
Madras  and  Bombay)  he  intended  to  assist  Muhammad  Ali  Khan. 
But  he  suddenly  turned  aside  into  Mysore,  which  he  ravaged  till 
the  King  agreed  to  make  peace  for  25  lakhs  of  rupees.  He  declares 
that  he  will  come  into  the  Carnatic  after  the  next  monsoon,  and  is 
now  at  Poona,  having  marched  over  a  great  tract  of  country  and 
gained  2  crores  of  rupees  in  his  campaign. 

After  peace  was  made  with  the  Marathas,  the  French  urged 
Salabat  Jang  to  march  into  the  Carnatic  ;  but  the  nobles  of  his  Court 
opposed  this,  and  persuaded  him  to  go  to  Aurangabad  where  he 
still  remains.  Out  of  jealousy  he  has  imprisoned  his  brothers  in 
the  fortress  of  Daulatabad  ;  and  is  said  to  be  short  of  money  with 
which  to  pay  his  troops.  Saiyid  Lashkar  Khan  has  been  restored  to 
favour  and  is  said  to  be  friendly  towards  Muhammad  Ali  Khan 
and  [hostile  ?]  to  the  French.  Believe  this  to  be  true,  for  soon  after- 
wards they  were  dismissed  and  marched  to  Hyderabad  ;  but  when 
disputes  arose  again  with  Balaji  Rao,  they  were  recalled.  They 
have  been  reinforced  from  Pondichery,  where  every  effort  has  been 
made  to  induce  the  Swiss  and   English  prisoners  to  take  service 


CALENDAR  FOR  I753"I754  211 

with  Bussy,  although  Dupleix  has  always  pretended  to  regard  them 
as  hostages,  not  prisoners.  The  Moghal  is  said  to  have  granted  the 
Deccan  to  Ghazi-ud-din  Khan's  son  ;  but  the  troubles  at  Delhi  have 
prevented  his  march. 

When  Lawrence  was  still  before  the  French  entrenchments  at 
Tiruviti,  Captain  John  Dalton,  who  had  always  reported  there  was 
4  months' provision  in  Trichinopoly,  suddenly  wrote  that  he  had 
only  15  clays'  store.  His  garrison  moreover  had  been  weakened 
by  the  loss  of  near  70  men  and  by  the  absence  of  a  topass  detach- 
ment which  had  been  sent  out  but  was  unable  to  return.  Lawrence 
at  once  marched,  leaving  Captain  Chace  in  Tiruviti  with  170  men. 
At  first  Chace  repulsed  the  French  attacks,  but  later  sent  a  party 
of  70  men  out  too  far  and  lost  them  all.  When  the  French  renewed 
their  attacks,  the  garrison,  which  was  '  under  no  command  ' 
released  the  French  prisoners  and  gave  up  the  place.  The  French 
then  completed  the  occupation  of  that  part  of  the  country  by  taking 
Chidambaram  and  Vriddhachalam.  At  Arcot,  Captain  Sanderson 
sent  a  party  so  near  to  Vellore  that  it  was  routed  and  Lieutenant 
Joseph  Smith  with  some  of  his  men  taken  prisoners. 

Lawrence  visited  the  King  of  Tanjore  who  received  him  well 
and  promised  help,  but  no  troops  were  sent  till  after  a  second  visit. 
Various  skirmishes  took  place  round  Trichinopoly ;  and  on 
September  21,  there  was  a  general  action  in  which  the  French 
were  routed  with  a  loss  of  70  Europeans  killed  and  100  with  7 
officers  taken  prisoners.  About  as  many  more  were  sent  wounded 
to  Pondichery.  The  Nawab  and  poligars  are  very  dilatory  in 
provisioning  Trichinopoly  ;  so  we  are  having  to  attend  to  this  our- 
selves. By  the  last  report  from  Lawrence,  he  was  in  the  Tanjore 
territories.  The  Nawab  has  not  been  able  to  collect  enough 
revenues  to  fulfil  his  contract  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  troops, 
which  amount  to  nearly  a  lakh  of  rupees  a  month.  This  is  a 
burden  too  great  for  us  to  bear,  yet,  if  we  do  not,  the  French  will 
immediately  have  the  province.  The  Nawab's  debt  is  now  near 
20  lakhs.  The  revenues  of  the  Company's  new  acquisitions  are 
nearly  2  lakhs  a  year. 

As  regards  the  future,  Balaji  Rao's  coming  is  uncertain,  and 
if  he  comes,  it  will  be  for  motives  ol  gain.  In  the  Carnatic,  the 
French,  Mysore  and  Morari  Rao  command  troops  exceeding  in 
number  those  of  the  English,  the  Nawab  and  Tanjore.  But  the 
French  troops  have  behaved  ill  in  most  field-engagements.     Of  the 


212  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Country  forces  Moijari  Rao's  are  the  best.     The  Nawab's  and  the 
Mysore  troops  take  up  much  room  but  do  nothing.    Peace  is  undoubt- 
edly most  desirable.    The  Nawab  has  been  pressed  to  make  peace 
with  the  Country  powers  ;  and  Lawrence  and  Palk  were  empowered 
to  treat  for  the  English,  but  nothing  could  be  settled.     Lawrence 
then  desired  two  of  Council  to  be  sent  to  camp  ;  this  could  not  be 
done,  so  Cooke  was  sent,  but  this  also  seems  to  have  been  fruitless. 
The  Mysore  Vakil  tells  Saunders  that  his  master  cannot  treat  open'y 
in  camp  for   fear  of  offending  the  French.     The   Nawab  also  sa)  s 
he  can  do  nothing  in  camp,  and  has  empowered  the  President,  etc., 
to  treat  with  the  Mysore  Vakil.     The  King  of  Mysore  demands 
Trichinopoly  ;  the  Nawab  will   agree  to  anything  but  that.     The 
Nawab  certainly  has  no  right  to  cede  Trichinopoly,  and  it  should 
not  be  done  except  of  absolute  necessity.     The  King  would  give 
very  advantageous  terms,  including  the  repayment  of  the  Nawab's 
debt  to  the  Company.    Will  do  everything  possible  to  find  a  middle 
course,  although  the  cession  of  Trichinopoly  would  probably  not 
affect  the  Company's  investment  at  Salem,  as  that  would  make  the 
King  as  firm  a  friend  to  the  English  as  an  Eastern  Prince  can  be. 
But  even  should  peace  be  made  with  the  Country  powers,  matters 
would  still  have  to  be  settled  with  the  French.    Last  year  the  Nawab 
made   proposals    which  were  rejected.     He  has  now  empowered 
the   Council   to   treat  with  Dupleix ;    and   it   has   been    proposed 
that  the  basis  of  peace  shall  be  the  recognition  of  Muhammad  Ali 
as  Nawab  and  the  security  of  the  King  of  Tanjore.     Dupleix  has 
replied  that  this  would  give  all  the  advantages  to  the  English,  and 
has  proposed  a  conference.     In  return  the  Council  have  inquired 
what   his   alternative   proposals    are.     Doubt   Dupleix'   intentions 
regarding  peace.     The  suggested  conference  is  probably  intended 
to  cause  suspicion  amongst  the  Nawab's  allies.     For  the  last  three 
years   Dupleix   has  been  repeatedly  brought    very    low,  but   has 
preferred  any  alternative  to  entering  into  a  Treaty ;  the  recruits 
he  receives  from    Europe   are  doubled    by   the    drafts    he   takes 
out  of  the  French  shipping.     Six  months  ago  his  expenditure  was 
believed  to  have  amounted  to  120  lakhs ;  and  this  seems  to  indicate 
that  he  is  receiving  support  from  the  State,  and  not  merely  from 
the  Company.     Moreover  when  he  is  grasping  at  the  government 
of  the  country  from  Cape  Comorin  to  Point  Palmyras,  how  can  he 
be  content  to  share  in  a  free  commerce  with  other  nations  ?     On  the 
contrary,  once  he  has  secured  the  Carnatic,  he  will  proceed  to  the 
conquest  of  other  parts  of  India. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753-1754  213 

Cannot  get  exact  information  of  the  French  outward  and  inward 
cargoes,  as  the  ships  often  put  in  at  the  Islands.  Believe  Q  ships 
came  out  this  year  and  I  now  returning.  A  Portuguese  ship,  the 
Royal  Galley,  which  left  Lisbon  on  May  2,  put  into  Fort  St.  David 
on  October  8,  and  her  supercargoes  applied  to  have  their  bullion 
coined.  This  was  refused,  so  they  proceeded  to  Pondichery.  She 
is  said  to  be  bound  for  Bengal  and  Surat. 

As  Starke  is  at  Fort  St.  David,  and  Lawrence  in  camp  writes 
that  he  will  obey  no  orders  but  those  of  the  Governor  and  Council, 
the  latter  have  resolved  that  the  Private  Committee  is  useless,  and 
so  have  dissolved  it.  Regret  the  difficulties  with  Lawrence,  but 
the  Council's  orders  are  always  conceived  solely  in  the  interests  of 
the  Company.     Urge  the  need  of  supplies. 

DESPATCH  FROM   THOMAS  SAUNDERS,   ETC.,  TO  THE  COMPANY. 

Fort  St.   George.    February   7,  1754.    [Public  Despatches 
to  England,   Vol.  21,  pp.  18— 22  (Copy  5  pp.)] 

This  goes  by  the  Dragon.  Cite  general  despatch  [of  October 
29>  1753]  by  the  Delawar.  Shipping  news.  The  French  are 
despatching  1  and  the  Danes  2  ships  for  Europe.  Could  not  sell 
the  broadcloth  by  public  outcry  but  will  try  again  next  month. 

David  Hunter  died  at  the  Negrais  on  December  [24I,  1753  and 
Henry  Brooke  takes  his  place.  The  Negrais  is  extremely  unhealthy 
except  on  ship-board  in  the  harbour.  Many  of  the  work  people  are 
dead  and  only  half  the  soldiers  ar3  fit  for  duty.  Provisions  are 
scarce  and  have  to  be  sent  from  Madras  or  Bengal,  and  the  works 
are  backward.  The  Treaty  with  the  Pegu  King  is  incomplete.  He 
has  sent  his  Minister  Coja  Necoos  but  is  not  reconciled  to  this 
settlement  and  hopes  that  the  difficulties  will  compel  the  English 
to  give  it  up.  Its  harbour  is  reported  to  be  unapproachable  except 
at  particular  seasons.  The  place  is  not  as  favourable  to  trade  as 
was  first  represented.  Have  therefore  instructed  Brooke  merely  to 
hold  it,  but  meanwhile  to  procure  from  the  King  an  exclusive  right 
to  Persaine,  a  place  eminently  suited  for  a  settlement.  Major 
Lawrence's  health  has  been  broken  down  by  continuous  service 
for  2  years.  Have  written  to  Bengal  to  relieve  him.  Though 
the  Emperor  has  defeated  the  Vizier,  the  troubles  have  not  ended. 
The  French  have  rejoined  Salabat  Jang  and  the  Nana  is  at 
Poona.  Salabat  Jang  is  said  to  be  coming  southwards,  but  he  is 
distressed  for  money  and  is  afraid  of  rebellion.  In  consequence  of 
of  the  arrears  due  to  the  French,  he  has  granted  them  the  countries 


il4  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

of  Rajahmundry  and  Chicacole  which  they  will  probably  usurp  as 
their  own.  Nawab  Jaffar  Ali  Khan  is  defying  their  authority  and 
the  French  have  to  force  him  to  obedience  if  they  are  to  be 
benefitted  by  the  grant.  The  Nawab's  army  was  cantoned  for  the 
winter  on  the  Tanjore  frontier.  The  French  attacked  Trichinopoly 
but  were  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  400  Europeans.  The  Marathas 
attempted  to  plunder  the  Tanjore  country,  but  they  have  been 
forced  to  retire.  The  Nawab's  troops  are  near  Trichinopoly  cover- 
ing convoys  of  provisions.  The  French  are  at  Srirangam.  Hear 
that  Balaji  Rao  is  coming  here  and  is  said  to  have  offered,  if  he 
does  not  come  in  person,  to  send  the  Nawab  20,000  horse  ;  but  all 
this  is  verv  uncertain. 

A  peace  Conference  has  been  held  at  Sadras — Palk  and  Van- 
sittart  for  the  Nawab,  and  Father  Lavaur,  du  Bausset  and  Kerjean 
for  the  Country  powers  and  the  French.  The  English  proposed 
that  Muhammad  Ali  Khan  should  be  confirmed  as  the  Nawab  of 
Arcot,  that  the  King  of  Tanjore  should  be  left  undisturbed,  and  that 
in  return  Muhammad  Ali  should  cede  to  the  French  districts  equal 
to  those  held  by  the  English  and  allow  free  commerce  to  both 
nations.  The  French  rejected  it  and  refused  to  recognise  Muham- 
mad Ali,  and  proposed  that  the  Nawab  should  give  up  his  claims, 
that  JDupleix  should  be  Governor  of  the  entire  country  from  Cape 
Comorin  to  Point  Palmyras,  including  Rajahmundry  and  Chicacole 
and  that  the  English  shall  have  their  annual  tribute  for  Madras 
remittedi  have  Poonamallee,  and  secure  their  debts.  The  French 
produced  several  sanads.  On  examination  one  sanad  was  found 
to  be  sealed  with  a  seal  dated  1733  ;  on  this  being  pointed  out,  the 
French  pretended  that  it  was  a  mere  duplicate  and  that  the 
original,  dated  1751,  was  at  Pondichery.  But  they  refused  to  permit 
further  scrutiny.  Dupleix'  offers  may  seem  tolerable,  but  neither 
he  nor  Salabat  Jang  can  fulfil  them  ;  and  they  would  involve  submit- 
ting to  illegal  authority,  betraying  the  Nawab,  and  ruining  the  Com- 
pany's settlements.  The  Conference  has  broken  off.  It  is  evident 
that  Dupleix'  plans  extend  to  the  whole  Coast,  and  no  peace  can  be 
expected.  "Urge  the  despatch  of  as  many  recruits  as  possible,  for 
1  on  a  superiority  of  force  depends  entirely  the  very  existence  of 
your  settlements.' 

Diamonds  registered  amount  to  Pags.  3,518-24-0  and  private 
trade  to  1,300  Pags.  Bills  have  been  drawn  on  the  Company 
for  Pags.  733-24-32. 


CALENDAR  FOR  I753~i;54  215 

Appended  are : — Register  of  diamonds,  manifest  of  private 
trade,  lists  of  the  packet  and  sailing  orders  for  Captain  Henry 
Kent  of  the  Dragon. 

Abstract  of  Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to  the 
Company.  Fort  St.  George.  March  9,  1754.  Received 
OCTOBER  5,  1754.  [Coast  and  Bay  Abstracts,  Letters  Received, 
Vol.  5,  pp.  458 — 462     {India  Office  transcript.)] 

Cite  their  despatch  by  the  Dragon.  This  goes  by  the  Durring- 
ton  which  takes  bales  and  60  tons  of  saltpetre  at  half-freight. 

China  and  Bombay  shipping.  'Pass  promised  them  23rd 
January  1750  is  desired  lest  the  form  of  that  now  used  should  be 
defective.' 

Enquire  of  the  cost  of  the  assay  utensils  and  the  chest  of  glass 
sent  by  the  Drake.  '  Broadcloth  damaged  by  last  year's  storm  sold 
well  at  outcry,  the  quantity  being  small-'  Last  year's  grain  sold 
at  a  profit  of  1,128  Pags.  1,000  candies  of  redwood  provided  for  the 
China  ships.  Have  sent  to  Sumatra  31  coffree  women  useless 
here.  Have  transmitted  Bombay  bills  favouring  Bengal.  '  Woolen 
goods. — The  bad  success  as  to  what  received  this  season  and  the 
remains  obliges  them  to  deny  the  request  of  Bengal  to  dispose  here 
of  half  the  expected  consignments  to  them  or  at  least  to  detain  it 
in  the  godowns,  as  that  will  have  the  same  effect  at  this  place 
which  those  in  the  Bay  are  desirous  of  guarding  the  large  quantity 
they  have  on  hand  from.' 

Of  Investment—'  They  have  exceeded  the  quantity  expected,  the 
war  being  removed  at  some  distance.  St.  David  have  done  some- 
thing. Madras  merchants  have  performed  tolerably  not  being 
exposd  to  the  Morattas.  Madapollam  has  furnishd  250 ;  Ingeram 
200  bales  ;  and  Vizagapatam  but  76,  from  the  plunder  and  troubles 
it  has  been  oppressd  with.  They  will  do  their  best,  but  the  hopes 
of  more  success  next  year  are  quite  uncertain.  The  French  have 
obtained  grants  of  the  rents  of  the  countries  whereon  the  three  last 
factories  depend.  The  Rajah,  a  friend  to  the  Company  and  who 
still  says  he  is  such,  has  farmd  them  and  promises  protection,  yet 
he  must  oblige  the  French,  and  impediments  may  be  expected. 
Should  the  war  in  this  province  be  removed  nearer  and  Salabad 
Jing  come,  neither  nation  can  do  much.'  '  Chints  orderd  at  Vizaga- 
patam, done  on  course  and  indifferent  izzarees,  colours  dull  and 
painting  bad  ;  a  further  trial  will  be  made  on  percallas,  a  thinner, 
properer  and  cheaper  cloth,' 


216  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

The  Dutch  give  no  signs  of  friendship.  They  obliged  a 
Madras-Manilla  ship  which  was  driven  into  Malacca  by  a  leak  to 
pay  I  %  on  landing  its  cargo.  Unless  redress  is  obtained,  will 
retaliate  this  inhospitable  treatment. 

Works  are  progressing  slowly  both  here  and  at  Fort  St.  David 
for  lack  of  men  and  materials.  Sea  and  Land  customs  increased  by 
2,324  and  1,129  Pags.,  respectively.  Have  granted  Sunku  Venkata- 
chalam  a  quantity  of  ground  in  Egmore,  as  large  as  that  formerly 
held  at  Chintadripet.  The  old  renters  of  Madras  have  been  re- 
quired to  pay  the  arrears  up  to  August  18,  1746,  but  excused  the  rest 
till  the  place  surrendered  in  September,  as  the  confusion  prevented 
any  collections.  '  Tax  on  provisions  taken  off,  there  being  no  cowle 
for  it  and  a  general  hardship. '  '  Duty  of  40  cash  more  than  allowd 
by  cowle  taken  by  remeasuring  grain  has  been  abolished  as  a  great 
grievance  falling  directly  on  the  poor.  '  '  Pagodas. — Their  revenues 
on  a  scrutiny  found  to  be  near  3  %  on  all  imports  by  black  mer- 
chants, besides  the  collections  on  goods  from  and  to  the  inland 
marts.  .  .  .  This  lis]  burthen  on  and  discouragement  to  trade 
opposite  to  every  good  purpose.  Submit  the  cancelling  them  to 
the  Court's  determination,  the  same  having  been  obtained  by  the 
Dubashes  to  former  Governours  and  confirmed  by  the  then  Board.  ' 
Enclose  Padre  Severini's  petition  regarding  the  grant  of  the  Vepery 
church  to  the  Danish  missionaries.  Application  from  Dupleix  and 
Father  Sebastian  for  the  confiscated  house  of  Baillieu.  The  St. 
Thome  renters  were  allowed  1,000  Pags.  as  compensation  (they 
had  claimed  2,000  Rs.)  for  the  enemy's  ravages. 

Dupre  appointed  Secretary  vice  Bourchier  resigned.  Alexander 
Baird  permitted  to  resign.  Lawrence  falling  ill,  Colonel  Scott  has 
been  desired  to  come  from  Bengal  to  take  the  command  here. 
Heath  who  served  well  in  the  Civil  department  for  5  years  is  now 
put  under  Colonel  Scott.  '  Soldiers  sent  from  Bengal  and  those 
landed  here  are  put  on  their  establishment  as  Governor  Drake  and 
Colonel  Scott  desired.'  Have  abolished  the  extra  diet  allowance  to 
soldiers  and  officers  detached  from  one  settlement  to  another,  as  it 
is  believed  that  their  contract  requires  them  to  serve  at  any  settle- 
ment. Granted  a  pension  of  15  Pags.  a  month  to  Clemente  Poverio, 
Captain  of  the  Topasses,  for  meritorious  service  in  the  course  of 
which  he  lost  a  leg.  '  A  monthly  writer  allowd  the  Military  Store- 
keeper, and  William  Aldersey  employ d  as  such  under  the 
Secretary  in  Mr.  Dolben's  room  who  supplies  Mr.  Heath's  place  at 
Madapollam.     Such    is   their  necessity   for   assistance,    from   the 


. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753-1754  217 

Country  troubles.'  Vansittart  has  made  much  progress  in  Persian. 
Request  for  his  use  a  copy  of  Thesaurus  Linguarum  Orientalium  by 
F.  Mesgnien,  printed  at  Vienna.  Dupleix  has  been  requested  to 
deliver  to  Captain  Schaub  the  effects  of  Ensign  Prevost  who  died 
a  Roman  Catholic  at  Pondichery.  '  Captain  Gaup  desiring  to  be 
allowd  cloathing  for  his  whole  company,  whether  compleat  or  not, 
they  have  kept  up  to  the  established  rule  of  the  English 
companies  of  doing  it  for  the  effectives  only. '  Casualties  and 
promotions  among  the  Military.  A  commission  was  granted  to 
Major  Lawrence  for  holding  courts-martial.  Thomas  Mansell, 
acting  as  Commissary  in  camp,  is  appointed  Judge-Advocate. 
A  promotion  has  been  occasioned  on  Captain  Dalton's  resignation, 
and  vacancies  made  by  the  late  action. 

Scrutiny  of  Thomas  Eyre's  accounts,  as  Sea  Customer  and 
Paymaster,  with  Morse.  Of  the  4,000  Pags.  advanced  by  the 
latter,  3,578  Pags.  have  been  very  fairly  accounted  for. 

Sumatra  affairs. 

Munro  was  elected  Mayor  and  James  Alexander  made  Sheriff. 
Bond  for  4,368  Pags.  paid  to  the  Mayor's  Court.  Have  allowed 
£20  a  year  each  to  the  Accountant-General,  the  Register  and  the 
Sub-Accountant  of  the  Court ;  and  4  Pags.  a  month  to  the  Clerk  of 
the  Court  of  Requests.  '  Disputes  have  arisen  among  the  members 
of  the  Court  interrupting  it.  Mr.  Fairfield  has  made  the  proper 
submission  on  a  complaint  from  Mr.  Ross.  Mr-  Ephraim  Isaac,  for 
refusing  to  name  the  author  of  a  report  complaind  of  by  Messrs. 
Percival,  Browning,  Fairfield  and  Edwards,  and  for  forward 
behaviour  on  the  occasion,  was  reprimanded.  Those  persons 
blamd  for  absenting  the  Court'  'Mr.  Percival  dismissd  from 
being  an  Alderman  on  absenting  himself  from  the  Court  as 
alledgd  to  the  impeding  of  justice,  after  his  desiring  to  resign.' 
'  Charter. — Their  thoughts  on  its  defects  now  laid  down ': — 
*  Some  rule  necessary  for  removing  the  inconvenience  of  natives 
becoming  suitors  in  the  Mayor's  Court  but  by  mutual  consent,  for 
the  party  in  the  wrong  will  always  decline  it.'  The  Court  consider 
that  the  term  'natives'  covers  'all  born  in  India,'  but  Council 
think  it  covers  only  Muhammadans  and  pagans.  Enquire 
whether  the  Mayor  can  be  re-elected  the  ensuing  year  as  in  Bengal. 
It  is  perhaps  better  to  avoid  it.  The  rule  that  an  Alderman's 
seat  should  only  be  filled  after  a  year's  absence  is  unsatisfactory. 
There  is  no  need  to  replace  a  supercargo  who  has  been  accident- 
ally detained  a  month  or  two  over  a  year;  a  covenanted  servant 
28 


218  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

ordered  to  another  settlement  should  be  replaced  at  once.  Vacan- 
cies in  the  Court  of  Requests  should  be  filled  up  as  they  arise 
and  not  annually  as  is  ordered.  The  foregoing  are  the  criticisms 
of  the  two  Courts.  The  Board  now  offer  further  considerations  : — 
'Appeals  to  the  King  in  Council  may  be  made  on  giving  security 
to  pay  the  interest  of  the  sum  in  question  with  the  costs  of 
the  appeal,  but  it  is  not  mentioned,  though  it  seems  just,  that 
the  appellant  should  give  security  also  for  the  sum  itself. ' 
Point  out  that  the  Charter  makes  no  provision  for  the  resignation 
of  Aldermen.  '  Broadcloth. — Much  of  the  imports  of  1752  remain- 
ing, sale  of  those  of  1753  was  deferd  longer  than  the  usual  time; 
and  being  put  up  according  to  orders  on  the  30th  January  and 
yesterday,  no  bidder  appeard.'  Complain  that  the  Fort  St.  David 
books,  in  spite  of  pressing  orders  and  even  threats,  though  due  in 
October,  were  received  only  two  days  ago.  Their  general  letter 
received  this  morning.  A  suitable  censure  will  be  passed  on  them 
for  this  neglect.  The  Durrington  has  on  board  1,250  bales  invoiced 
at  119,732  Pags.  ;  diamonds  registered,  106,244  Pags. ;  and  Captain's 
private  trade,  24,690  Arcot  Rs.  The  cash  balance  is  19,845  current 
Pags.,  791  Madras  Pags.,  614,411  Arcot  Rs.,  and  8,320  Madras  Rs. 
Bills  drawn  on  the  Company  for  1,541  Pags.;  and  certificates  for 
2,046  Pags. 

Separate  [?]  Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to 
the  Company.  Fort  St.  George.  March  9, 1754.  [Pub- 
lic Despatches  to  England,  Vol.  19,  pp.  66—69  (Copy  lV2  pp.)] 

Regarding  the  Negrais,  the  situation  of  the  place  is  not  so 
favourable  as  was  represented  to  the  Company ;  it  is  so  unhealthy 
that  even  the  Peguans  cannot  remain  there  for  long  together,  and 
everyone  is  afraid  of  going  there.  Percival,  Hopkins  and  Smith 
all  declare  that  their  health  is  too  bad  to  allow  them  to  succeed 
Hunter;  and  Council  considers  that  there  is  no  need  for  one  of 
Council  to  reside  there.  Have  recalled  Westgarth  from  Syrian  ; 
his  accounts  appear  very  irregular.  Have  appointed  Thomas 
Taylor  to  succeed  him. 

The  Moghal  is  said  to  have  made  peace  with  his  Vizier. 
The  French  have  succeeded  in  inducing  Salabat  Jang  to  move 
from  Aurangabad  to  '  Calacheputra '  on  his  march  towards  the 
Carnatic ;  but  it  is  believed  that  lack  of  money,  the  likelihood  of 
rebellion,  and  the  opposition  of  Balaji  Rao  will  prevent  his  march. 
Saiyid    Lashkar  Khan  has    resigned    in   disgust.    Have    already 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753-1754  219 

reported  that  the  rents  of  Rajahmundry  and  Chicacole  were  mort- 
gaged to  the  French,  but  that  Nawab  Jaffar  Ali  Khan  refused  to 
obey  the  orders.  He  and  Vijayaram  Raz  wrote  to  Saunders 
offering  to  defend  the  country  if  a  force  of  Englishmen  were  sent 
to  their  help ;  but  the  situation  in  the  Carnatic  would  not  allow  it. 
Jaffar  Ali  has  now  gone  to  Hyderabad,  and  Vijayaram  Raz  has 
accepted  the  government  from  the  French,  so  that  our  settlements 
are  still  undisturbed.  Possibly  he  will  quarrel  with  the  French 
when  the  revenue  falls  due  for  payment. 

The  surprise  and  destruction  of  a  party  of  200  English  with  7 
officers  when  escorting  provisions  into  Trichinopoly.  This  loss 
affects  us  more  than  the  French  have  been  affected  by  losing  1,000 
men  in  the  last  year.  Lawrence  had  given  hopes  of  being  able  to 
attack  the  French  if  he  was  reinforced;  and  a  party  was  being 
prepared  to  send  to  him;  but  now  he  will  probably  have  to  act  on 
the  defensive.  The  French  are  indisposed  for  peace  save  on  their 
own  terms,  as  papers  in  the  French  Correspondence  show.  Though 
Dupleix  claims  so  extensive  an  authority,  he  seems  uncertain  of  the 
justice  of  his  claims,  for  he  has  never  demanded  from  the  Dutch 
the  tribute  they  pay  annually  to  the  Sarkar  for  Pulicat  and  Sadras. 
The  Nawab  cannot  make  peace  with  Mysore  except  by  ceding 
Trichinopoly;  if  necessary,  he  must  do  this.  Should  Salabat 
Jang  come  into  the  Carnatic,  the  English  will  withdraw  all  their 
inland  garrisons  except  Trichinopoly  and  Chingleput.  These 
places  with  a  year's  provisions  would  be  perfectly  secure,  as 
Salabat  Jang  could  not  subsist  his  army  here  for  so  long.  The 
Nawab's  troops  will  be  under  the  cover  of  Fort  St.  David.  Believe 
from  'the  extensive  views'  of  Dupleix  that  the  troubles  will  not 
subside.  The  matter  must  be  settled  in  Europe  or  the  Company 
must  send  out  as  many  recruits  as  the  ships  can  bring.  If  he  once 
establishes  a  superiority,  [the  Coast?]  will  be  of  little  value  to  any 
but  the  French. 

DESPATCH    FROM  THE  COMPANY   TO  THOMAS  SAUNDERS,    ETC. 

East  India  House.    November  28, 1753.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  57,  pp.  41 — 44  {Original  4  pp.)] 

Cite  despatch  of  January  24,  1753.  Acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
despatches,  dated  March  21  and  24,  1753.  Of  the  17  ships  taken 
up,  2  are  destined  for  China  direct,  5  for  Madras  and  China,  5  for 
Madras  and  Bengal,  4  for  Bombay  and  I  for  St.  Helena  and 
Sumatra.    The  Coast  and  Bay  ships  will  sail  in  December  and 


220  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

January.  The  Secret  Committee  consists  of  Richard  Chauncy, 
Roger  Drake,  William  Mabbott,  and  Christopher  Burrow.  Send 
list  of  shipping.  This  goes  by  the  St.  George  on  which  are  con- 
i  signed  30  chests  of  silver,  100  barrels  of  gunpowder  and  70  tons 
of  lead  for  Madras ;  also  300  pipes  of  Madeira  to  be  equally  divided 
between  Bengal  and  Madras,  unless  the  latter  Presidency  needs 
more,  owing  to  the  large  number  of  officers  and  covenanted 
servants  there,  in  which  case  50  additional  pipes  may  be  detained. 
Any  unusual  leakage  or  damage  caused  by  bad  stowage  must  be 
made  good  by  the  commander.  20  pipes  are  allowed  to  the 
ship's  officers  as  privilege,  but  anything  in  excess  should  be  con- 
fiscated as  unlicensed  goods.  As  the  Bengal  ships  cannot  take  in 
all  the  woolen  goods  consigned  thither,  300  bales  have  been  laded 
on  the  True  Briton ;  these  may  be  forwarded  by  the  present  ship 
unless  they  can  be  sold  to  advantage  at  Madras  or  at  Bombay, 
where  sales  have  lately  been  large  and  profitable.  As  much 
treasure  as  possible  to  be  forwarded  to  Bengal.  The  French  East 
India  Company  have  sent  one  of  their  Directors  to  accommodate 
the  dissensions  between  the  two  Companies  on  the  Coromandel 
Coast,  and  it  is  hoped  that  a  Treaty  will  result.  Have  entertained 
as  writers  Samuel  Johnson,  Waldegrave  Pelham,  James  Macormick, 
James  Broadbent,  William  Aldersey,  Robert  Dowsett  and  John 
Hamilton.     Send  60  recruits  on  this  ship. 

Letter  from  Robert  Goodere  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 

LONDON.     DECEMBER  II,  1753.     [Public  Despatches  from  Eng- 
land, Vol.  57,  p.  139  {Original  I  p.)] 

Considers  that  the  attachment  of  his  cash  in  India  was  very 
unkind  and  malicious,  as  it  is  well-known  that  he  has  enough 
either  in  India  or  Europe  to  answer  the  Company's  demands. 
Believes  the  step  was  taken  in  order  to  prejudice  him  in  the  Com- 
pany's eyes.  Has  lived  in  India  '  full  long  enough  to  loath  the 
country  and  its  constitution.'  If  he  had  left  Vizagapatam  without 
his  enemies'  having  anything  to  accuse  him  of,  he  would  have  been 
more  fortunate  than  any  of  his  predecessors  there. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India  House.    December  19,  1753.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  57,  pp.  45—57  (Original  13  pp.)] 
Cite  despatches  of  January  24,  and  November  28,   1753.     Ac- 
knowledge the   receipt  of    Madras    despatches,    General,    dated 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753-1754  221 

November  3,    1752,   February    21    and    March  21    and  24,     1753 ; 
Separate,  dated  November  3,  1752,  February  16,   21  and   March   18 
and  24,  1753  ;  despatch  from  Fort  St.  David,  dated  February  28,  1753  ; 
from  Major  Lawrence,  dated  October  27,   1752,  January  5  and  24, 
February  16,  and  March  9,  1753;  and  from  Brohier,  dated  February 
18  and  March   18,  1753.     Furnish  a  list  of  the  17  ships  taken  up  for 
the  season  with  their  destinations.    Bengal  ships  will  call  at  Madras 
for  the  coinage  of  their  treasure.     Secret  Committee.     Name  super- 
cargoes appointed  for  China  ships.    Licensed  silver,  coral,  emeralds, 
pearls,  etc.,  for  Madras  or  Bengal,  if  carried  on  to  other  ports  by 
accident,  may  be  forwarded  freight  free  on  any  other  Company's 
ship.     Any  goods  suitable  for  China  may  be  laden  on  the  Coast  and 
China  ships.     The  St.  George  brings  300  pipes  of  Madeira,  and  70 
tons  of  lead  for  Bengal.     In  order  to  secure  a  September  ship  from 
Madras,  a  Bengal  ship  may  be  detained,  but  her  cargo  must  be 
forwarded  as  early  as  possible.     Expect  all  the  Coast  and  Bay 
ships  to  be  returned  the  same  season,  as  there  are  only  5  of  them 
of  which  I   is  small.     Any  surplus  may  be  laden  on  a  Bombay 
ship.     As  Coast  and  Bay  ships  carry  no  iron  kintledge,  their  full 
kintledge  is  to  be  in  saltpetre  at  16%  of  the  chartered  tonnage.   Con- 
sign to  Madras  200  chests  of  treasure,  1,230  bales  of  woolen  goods, 
400  tons  of  lead,  150  tons  of  copper,  150  tons  of  iron,  600  barrels  of 
gunpowder,  etc.     As  it  is  very  dangerous  to  send  large  quantities 
of  gunpowder  from  Europe,  and  as  with  the  necessary  skill  it  can 
be  made  just  as  well  in  India,  send  an  exact  model  of  a  powder- 
house  and  mills  with  a  minute  description,  and  William  Bishop  to 
be  Superintendent  of  the  powder  works  on  £.100  a  year  with  pay  as 
a  First  Lieutenant  of  the  Military.     Though  all  the  treasure  is  con- 
signed to  Madras,  as  much  as  possible  must  be  sent  on  to  Bengal. 
Enclose  Accountant's  remarks  on  the  assay  of  gold  and   silver 
coins.     Notice  inequality  in  the  weight  of  Arcot  rupees.     The  high 
standard  of  the  Company's  coins  must  be  maintained.     Send  bale 
screws  and  a  larger  supply  of  medicines.     St.  Helena  is  in  need  of 
30  coffree  slaves.     Send  a  parcel  of  books  ;  will  supply  any  others  if 
necessary  on  '  divinity,  law,  commerce,  or  any  other  useful  know- 
ledge.'   Forward  list  of  the  investment.     The  fabric  of  cloth  made 
or  bought  at  Madras  and  Fort  St.  David  must  be  improved.     Salt- 
petre as  kintledge  for  Madras  ships  should  be  got  from  Bengal,  and 
Bengal  should  be  supplied  with  redwood  for  their  ships.     The  3 
Presidencies  should  co-operate  in  arranging  the  disposal  of  the 
Europe  tonnage.     Surplus  pepper  from  Sumatra  to  be  sent  home  by 


222  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

the  store  ship  or  by  any  of  the  Coast  and  Bay  ships.  Regret  to 
hear  of  the  misunderstanding  between  Saunders  and  Lawrence,  so 
prejudicial  to  the  Company's  interest,  but  hope  they  have  been 
reconciled  by  this  time.  A  good  understanding  must  be  carefully 
cultivated  between  civil  and  military  servants.  To  avoid  employing 
Indians  as  writers,  the  Company's  servants,  especially  the  younger 
ones,  must  be  fully  employed  ;  and  if  more  are  needed,  they  shall 
be  sent  out.  Their  conduct  must  be  carefully  watched.  They 
should  not  be  allowed  to  spend  more  than  they  earn.  Their  morals 
and  manner  of  life  are  to  be  examined  once  every  quarter  and  the 
result  entered  in  the  Diary.  Send  62  English  recruits ;  300  more 
will  follow.  A  100  Swiss  will  also  be  sent  for  the  Swiss  companies. 
No  recruits  for  Bengal  should  be  detained  if  it  can  be  helped, 
and  troops  forwarded  to  Bengal  when  they  can  be  safely  spared. 
Send  out  George  Beaver,  Alexander  Callender,  and  Thomas  White, 
as  Captains ;  William  Bishop  as  First  Lieutenant ;  John  Tabby, 
Robert  Campbell,  and  Thomas  Newton,  as  Lieutenants ;  William 
Jennings  as  Lieutenant  of  the  Artillery  ;  and  Henry  Meyers,  Joseph 
Darke,  and  James  Stuart,  as  Ensigns.  As  the  quarrel  between  the 
Nawab  of  Arcot  and  the  King  of  Mysore  is  so  prejudicial  to  the 
former's  affairs,  every  pacific  and  prudent  measure  to  reconcile 
them  should  be  taken. 

The  Treaty  concerted  with  the  French  Commissary  has  been  sent 
to  Paris  for  consideration  by  the  French  Company.  Appoint 
William  James  Tabby  (Lieutenant  Tabby's  son)  and  John  Nolikins, 
cadets  on  20d.  a  day.  Send  a  machine,  invented  by  Ensign 
Meyers,  for  pointing  and  quick-firing  of  cannon  by  night  as  well 

as  by  day. 

Appended  are: — (l)  lists  of  ships  that  arrived  and  sailed 
(p.  279) ;  (2)  description  of  the  models  for  making  gunpowder 
(pp.  285-286) ;  and  (3)  Accountant's  remarks  on  the  assay  of  gold 
and  silver  coins  in  Madras  (pp.  287-288). 

DESPATCH    FROM   THE   COMPANY  TO  THOMAS  SAUNDERS,  ETC. 

East  India  House.   January  23, 1754.    [Public  Despatches  from 

England,  Vol.  57,  PP>  59—86  (Original  28  pp.)] 

Cite  despatch  of  November  28  and  December  19,  1753.  The 
Coast  and  China  ships  sailed  from  England  in  December  1753. 
Bengal  ships  are  to  touch  at  Madras  to  land  despatches  and  to 
exchange  treasure  for  coin  of  which  a  quantity  should  be  provided. 
Bengal  should  be  urged  to  despatch  their  home  bound  ships  early 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753-1754  223 

as  delay  in  their  arrival  in  England  hinders  shipping  for  the 
current  season.  The  charterparty  rule  that  Bengal  ships  are  not 
to  be  despatched  home  between  March  II  and  November  21,  need 
not  be  rigidly  observed.  Regret  to  hear  the  misfortune  that  has 
befallen  the  Colchester,  Delawar,  and  Brilliant.  The  Yorkshire  Grey 
purchased  for  the  Sumatra  service  is  to  be  disposed  of  if  the  Brilliant 
is  heard  of  again.  No  ships  are  to  be  purchased  except  under 
absolute  necessity.  The  surgeon,  carpenter  and  gunner  of  the 
Bombay  Castle  should  be  allowed  to  remain  in  India  only  if  they 
will  be  of  particular  service  in  the  Company's  affairs.  Are  much 
disappointed  that  the  Delawar  only  brought  216  instead  of  600 
slaves  from  Madagascar.  If  commanders  so  desire,  the  Coast  and 
Bay  ships  may  each  be  laden  with  150  tons  of  saltpetre,  provided 
room  is  found  for  all  bale  goods. 

Have  already  sent  198  chests  of  bullion  (£195,676-16-0)  and  3 
chests  of  gold  (£31,576-19-8).  Consign  by  the  Denham,  York,  Norfolk 
and  Anson  6  chests  of  gold  (£76,000)  together  with  silver  for  Bengal. 
An  estimate  to  be  made  of  what  money  will  be  needed  for  the 
Coast  investment,  for  the  payment  of  any  debt,  and  for  the  dis- 
charge of  expenses,  until  the  arrival  of  the  next  season's  ships,  and 
no  more  bullion  than  what  is  absolutely  necessary  for  these  purposes 
is  to  be  retained.  Articles  indented  for  must  be  precisely  described 
or  they  cannot  be  sent.  Have  sent  1,230  bales  according  to  the 
Company's  scheme  of  exporting  as  much  woolen  goods  as  can  be 
sold.  If  Madras  is  overstocked  some  may  perhaps  be  sent  to 
Bombay.  Send  as  much  lead  and  iron  as  ships  can  carry,  as  they 
sell  for  a  good  profit.  Direct  that  the  system  of  selling  all  goods 
by  public  outcry  be  maintained.  The  names  of  the  consignee,  and 
consignor  will  in  future  be  included  in  manifests  of  coral,  silver,  etc. 

On  some  articles  of  the  Madras  investment,  there  is  a  con- 
siderable loss,  and  the  profit  on  the  whole  is  too  small  to  cover  the 
expenses  of  the  Presidency.  The  last  investment  was  as  large  as 
could  be  expected  but  was  poor  in  quality  and  high  in  price.  The 
quantity,  quality  and  prices  of  the  Northern  investment  must  be 
attended  to  by  the  Northern  settlements  who  are  to  be  supplied 
with  ample  funds.  The  method  of  providing  the  investment  is  so 
private  as  to  admit  of  unfair  practices.  In  future  a  month's  notice 
is  to  be  given  for  merchants  to  send  in  written  tenders,  the  best  of 
which  are  to  be  accepted. 

As  the  scheme  for  an  English  settlement  on  the  Negrais  is  no 
longer  a  secret,  it  may  be  dealt  with  in  the  general  letters.     Note 


224  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

that  Taylor,  Westgarth,  Hunter  and  Henry  Brooke  have  been  sent 
thither  with  vessels,  etc.,  and  that  the  French  will  try  to  render 
the  project  abortive.  Should  this  prove  a  failure,  the  offer  of  a 
settlement  at  Tenasserim  should  be  accepted  if  possible  so  as  to 
prevent  the  Dutch  and  French  gaining  a  hold  there.  The  quarrel 
between  the  Nawab  of  Arcot  and  the  King  of  Mysore  is  the  more 
unfortunate  as  it  has  caused  a  great  increase  in  the  English 
advances  to  the  Nawab.  Urge  the  necessity  of  securing  as  speedy 
a  reimbursement  as  possible. 

Madras  and  Fort  St.  David  fortifications  must  be  completed 
and  the  Black  Town  defences  specially  strengthened,  so  as  to 
induce  rich  country  people  to  settle  there  for  safety.  The  inhabi- 
tants of  Fort  St.  George  ought  to  contribute  to  the  cost.  Approve 
of  Brohier's  conduct  in  carrying  on  the  works.  Trust  Colonel 
Scott  will  be  able  to  complete  all  necessary  works  without  running 
into  great  expense.  Devikottai  being  an  old  country  fort,  should 
only  be  kept  in  repair  with  the  least  possible  expense.  A  site 
should  be  selected  for  the  new  powder-mill.  Perhaps  the  Egmore 
Redoubt,  where  the  present  powder-house  is,  may  be  suitable. 
All  powder  is  to  be  tested  in  the  presence  of  the  Major  and  what 
proves  defective  is  to  be  returned  to  be  new  worked.  Approve  of 
Council's  successful  application  to  the  Nawab  for  remission  of  the 
annual  rent  of  1,200  Pags.  for  Madras.  Burton's  claim  for  money 
spent  on  the  Garden  House,  etc.,  at  Fort  St.  David  was  rightly 
rejected.  Permit  Jaggoo  to  collect  the  customs  payable  at  the 
temple  built  by  his  father  at  Chintadripet,  on  condition  that  he 
pays  off  2,000  Pags.  a  year  for  his  debt  to  the  Company.  Call 
for  a  report  on  the  protest  made  by  the  administrators  of  Coja 
Petrus  against  the  delivery  of  the  Vepery  Church  to  the  Danish 
Missionaries.  Disapprove  of  letting  farms  for  a  period  of  5  years. 
In  future  all  farms  are  to  be  sold  publicly  in  the  presence  of  the 
Governor  and  Council,  and  for  the  present  for  no  longer  a  period 
than  one  year. 

Cannot  grant  the  Council's  request  to  permit  junior  servants  to 
go  to  sea  to  carry  on  Council's  'private  trade,  especially  as  the 
Company  have  resolved  that  their  affairs  shall  be  carried  on  only 
by  their  own  servants.  As  a  rule  there  shall  be  no  supersessions 
by  removal  of  servants  from  other  Presidencies.  Send  list  of  free 
merchants,  etc.,  permitted  to  proceed  to  India.  Samuel  Chandler, 
permitted  to  reside  in  India  as  surgeon,  may  succeed  to  the  first 
vacancy.    Disapprove  the  employment  of  Palk  as   Paymaster  and 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753-1754  225 

Commissary  as  it  is  incompatable  with   his   station  as  Chaplain. 
He  is  to  be   immediately  relieved  of  these   duties.     Suspect  that 
during  the  late  troubles  many  servants   have  enriched  themselves 
at  the  Company's  expense  by  improper  means  such  as  perquisites 
in  letting  the  farms,  in  contracting  for  investment  and  in  supply- 
ing the  Military  with  provisions,  etc.     Order  an  immediate  enquiry 
into  the  profits   of  every  servant   with    a  view  to  checking  this. 
Call  for  a  report  on  two  of  the  Council,  charged  with   fraud.     A 
statement    of  all   perquisites    received    by    servants    should    be 
furnished.     Prescribe  certain  rules  for  the  conduct  of  Company's 
servants: — (1)  all  servants,  civil  and  military  (soldiers   included) 
must  attend  Church  every  Sunday  ;  (2)  the  Governor  and  Council 
must   watch    and  control  the  morals  of  all  servants  ;    (3)  senior 
servants  must  avoid  extravagant  living,  '  decent  frugality  '  being 
more  becoming  to  merchants  ;  (4)  junior  servants  must  live  within 
their    means,    and    no   writers   should   keep   palankin,    horse   or 
chaise  ;  (5)  quarterly  enquiries  to  be  made  into  the  conduct  of  all 
servants   below   the    Council.     In    punishing    a   servant,    formal 
charges  should  be  framed,  his  explanation  taken,  and   evidence 
impartially  weighed;  the  full  proceedings  in  each  case  must  be 
sent  to  the  Company  to  enable  them  to  deal  with  appeals  from 
such   persons.     Disputes   which   can    be   settled   in   India  should 
never  be  referred  home.     Approve  action  taken  on  the  discovery  of 
Empson's  fraud,  and  strict  watch  kept  against  all  embezzlements. 
A  small   chest   of  treasure   consigned   to  Lieutenant  Green[ville] 
was   carried   to   China    as   no   demand   fof   it   was  made    to   the 
Captain  ;  steps  should  be  taken  to  prevent  mistakes  of  this  kind. 
Robert  Goodere   has   paid   the  balance  of  his  account  with  the 
Company  amounting  to  £1,279-13-2  ;  and  the  attachment  of  his 
effects  should  be  withdrawn,  unless  he  is  still  indebted  to  the 
Company.     The  book  of  Standing  Orders  sent  home  only  comes 
up  to  1 721.     If  the  original  is  not  brought  up  to  date  it  is  to  be 
completed  immediately  and  to  lie  on  the  table  whenever  Council 
meets.     Date   of  Consultation  to  be  noted  on  each  page  of  the 
Consultation  book.     Accounts  of  quickstock,  lists  of  christenings, 
marriages  and  burials,  etc.,  must   be  brought  up  to  date  before 
despatch.     Packets  to  be  made  as  small  as  possible  and  put  in 
square  boxes  instead  of  in   '  portmanteau  cases.'    Complain  that 
neither  Cockell,  nor  Major  Lawrence  nor  Major  Kinneer  has  signed 
the  Consultations  at  which  they  were  present.     This  proves  that 
the  minutes  were  not  brought  up  to  date.     In   future  minutes  of 
29 


226  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

every  Consultation  must  be  signed  within  a  week.  Bonds  bearing 
higher  interest  than  6  %  are  to  be  first  discharged;  the  China 
Missionaries'  bond  for  20,000  Pags.  and  Lewis  Madeiro's  for  30,000 
Arcot  Rs.,  both  bearing  interest  at  6  %,  may  be  paid  off  when  cash 
is  available,  but  this  should  not  be  done  if  it  will  involve  distress- 
ing Bengal  for  money.  Call  for  a  full  report  on  Sultan  David's 
bond  for  Rs.  20,000,  dated  August  7,  1745.  Furnish  extracts  from 
the  Church  ledgers  regarding  East  India  bonds  and  bond  of  Henry 
Newman,  late  Secretary  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  the  Gospel, 
who  died  insolvent.  Have  appointed  David  Blake,  Randfurlie  Knox 
and  Robert  Bannatyne  as  Ensigns.  Can  send  only  164  more  recruits 
instead  of  the  300  that  it  was  proposed  to  send.  A  '  respectable 
military  force '  must  be  maintained  on  the  Coast  till  the  troubles 
are  over,  but  their  cost  must  be  minimised.  Send  a  party  of 
Swiss  recruits.  Particular  enquiry  is  to  be  made  as  to  their  treat- 
ment in  their  passage.  They  are  to  be  on  exactly  the  same  footing 
as  the  other  Swiss.  Approve  grant  of  uniform  and  a  monthly 
allowance  to  the  Coffrees  in  military  service,  instead  of  merely 
allowing  them  diet.  Note  that  some  misunderstanding  has  arisen 
between  the  Council  and  Major  Lawrence  regarding  appointment 
of  officers.  Under  the  Military  Regulations  of  1748,  it  is  vested  in 
the  Governor  and  Council  (as  the  Company's  representatives),  due 
regard  being  paid  to  the  recommendations  of  the  Commanding 
officer  ;  and  special  regard  should  be  paid  to  all  Lawrence's  opinions 
relating  to  military  operations,  but  they  must  be  subject  to  the 
examination  by  the  Governor  and  Council.  Trust  that  Major 
Lawrence  will  forget  past  misunderstandings,  and  as  'a  man  of 
honour  '  do  his  duty.  Expect  all  servants  to  act  with  '  steady  zeal, 
unanimity  and  duty.'  Ensign  David  Blake  has  borrowed  £15 
from  George  Higginson,  which  is  to  be  recovered  from  his  pay. 

Sumatra  affairs. 

A  letter  from  the  Garde-des-Sceaux  to  the  Due  de  Mirepoix,  dated 
at  Paris,  January  10,  has  been  sent  to  the  Minister.  It  says  that  the 
delay  in  the  conclusion  of  the  Treaty  is  due  to  the  discussions  being 
carried  on  between  the  Directors  and  the  Ministers.  It  also  states 
that  Godeheu  sailed  from  France  on  December  31,  with  orders  to 
'pacify  the  troubles.'  He  is  said  to  be  'pacific  '  but  firm,  one  who 
will  not  allow  French  privileges  to  be  infringed.  Suggest  that 
until  matters  are  settled,  a  cessation  of  arms  be  negotiated  with  him 
to  include  all  the  contending  parties.  The  Nawab  would  have  been 
much  better  off  if  he  had  surrendered  Trichinopoly  to  Mysore  when 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753-1754  227 

it  was  demanded  of  him.  Hope  that  an  accommodation  is  still 
possible.  The  English  Ministry  is  supporting  the  Company  in  their 
negotiations  with  the  French  Commissaries.  If  a  reasonable  Treaty 
is  not  secured,  a  properly  equipped  squadron  of  men-of-war  with  a 
body  of  His  Majesty's  troops  is  ready  to  sail  for  India.  The 
Commander  will  call  first  at  Fort  St.  David  where  arrangements 
should  be  made  for  the  landing  of  troops,  etc.  A  ship  of  the 
Embden  Company  under  the  protection  of  the  King  of  Prussia, 
with  Harris  (an  Englishman)  as  Agent,  is  about  to  sail  for  Coro- 
mandel  and  Bengal.  He  should  not  be  allowed  to  interfere  with 
Company's  rights,  and  no  encouragement  is  to  be  offered  him. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India  House.   January  31,  1754.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  57,  pp.  87-88  (Original  2  pp.)] 

Colonel  Scott  should  be  on  the  Coast,  either  at  Madras  or  Fort 
St.  David,  when  the  English  squadron  arrives.  Accommodation 
and  food  must  be  ready  for  the  troops.  The  squadron  consists  of 
4  ships  and  2  frigates  with  800  troops  on  board.  Trust  that  Thomas 
Saunders  will  not  resign  at  the  present  critical  time,  as  the 
Company  have  '  a  great  dependance  upon  his  abilitys.' 

DESPATCH      FROM      THE     COMPANY  TO     CAROLINE    FREDERICK 

Scott.    East  India    House.    January  31,  1754.    [Public 

Despatches  from  England,  Vol.  57,  p.  1 27  (Original  I  p.)) 

Direct  him  to  be  at  Fort  St.  George  or  Fort  St.  David  when  the 
King's  Squadron  arrives. 

Letter    from    H.   Fox   to   Lieutenant-Colonel   Heron. 

WAR     OFFICE.     FEBRUARY     1754.     [Public    Despatches    from 
England,  Vol.  57,  p.  301  (Original  I  p.)) 

Permits  him  to  take  up  the  Company's  service  provided  he 
resigns  his  rank  in  the  Army  as  Lieutenant-Colonel.  If  he  behaves 
well  in  the  Company's  service,  he  will  on  return  to  England,  be 
restored  to  his  rank  and  placed  on  half  pay  as  Lieutenant-Colonel 
of  Foot. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India  House.    February  15, 1754.    [Public  Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  57,  pp.  89—97.     (Original  9  pp.)] 
The    despatch    of  the    Denham,     York    and  Norfolk    has    been 
delayed  till  now,  by  the  sailors   leaving  their  ships  owing  to  the 


228  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

issue  of  press  warrants  for  manning  the  Squadron  about  to  sail  to 
the  East.  The  Kent,  London  and  Britannia  will  be  employed  as 
transports  for  the  King's  troops  and  will  be  ready  to  sail  the  first 
week  in  March.  In  consequence,  3  additional  ships  have  had  to 
be  taken  up  for  Bombay.  Kintledge  on  the  several  ships.  This 
goes  by  the  Anson.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Heron  and  Robert  Orme 
will  sail  on  one  of  the  Bombay  ships  which  will  land  them  at 
Madras.  The  3  transports  should  either  be  returned  the  same 
season  with  Coast  and  Bay  goods,  or  employed  in  the  Country  trade 
at  freight  so  as  to  cover  their  demurrage,  or  2  of  them  may  be 
sent  to  Canton  on  the  Company's  account.  Consign  on  the  Anson 
gold,  etc.,  valued  at  £64,779-9-6. 

Fear  that  unfair  practices  have  been  used  in  the  investment; 
repeat  the  directions  of  January  23,  and  order  that  all  proposals 
and  contracts  be  made  in  Council  and  that  all  goods  be  sold  at 
public  outcry,  at  which  all  persons  are  to  be  encouraged  to  bid. 
The  present  crisis  calls  for  a  change  in  the  constitution  of  the 
Council.  It  needs  enlargement  and  each  member  is  expected  to 
work  heartily  and  zealously. 

Appoint  as  Council : — Thomas  Saunders,  President  and 
Governor ;  George  Pigot,  Second  in  Council  and  Deputy  Governor 
of  Fort  St.  David  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Alexander  Heron,  as  Major 
and  Third  in  Council ;  and  Richard  Starke,  Charles  Boddam, 
Henry  Powney,  Robert  Orme,  Foss  Westcott,  Alexander  Wynch, 
William  Percival,  Thomas  Cooke,  John  Smith  and  Charles 
Bourchier.  This  will  form  a  larger  body  than  usual,  and  no 
vacancies  are  to  be  filled  until  it  is  reduced  under  the  number  of 
II.  Such  vacancies  should  then  be  filled  by  the  next  in  standing 
unless  they  should  be  unfit  persons.  Repeat  the  direction  that  the 
Major  cannot  rise  higher  than  Third  in  Council.  In  case  of  a 
vacancy  in  the  Major's  place  it  is  not  to  be  filled  until  the  Council 
has  received  the  Company's  orders,  Heron  and  Orme  will  sail  on 
the  Warren  about  the  middle  of  next  month.  If  Pigot  is  at  a 
distance  from  Madras  or  Fort  St.  David,  he  is  to  be  summoned 
thither  at  once.  Although  Pigot  should  generally  be  at  Fort  St. 
David,  yet  on  extraordinary  occasions  he  is  to  be  called  up  to 
Madras.  Major  Lawrence  continues  on  our  Council  and  on  the 
Select  Committee  for  Country  .affairs,  and  owing  to  his  abilities 
the  Company  hopes  that  he  will  attend  as  often  as  may  be  possible. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Alexander  Heron,  an  able  and  experienced 
officer,    has    been    appointed    Major    of    the    Troops    under    the 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753-1754  229 

Presidency  of  Fort  St.  George,  with  the  command  and  clothing  of  a 
company,  together  with  a  salary  of  £  250  a  year  and  the  usual 
allowances  for  diet,  servants  and  palankins  of  the  Third  in 
Council.  Although  he  is  senior  in  His  Majesty's  service  to  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Scott  and  Major  Lawrence,  yet  he  is  to  rank'  under 
them  and  has  agreed  to  this  condition.  He  is  also  to  rank  below 
King's  officers  of  the  same  degree  with  himself,  just  as  Company's 
officers  rank  below  King's  officers  of  the  same  degree.  The  Board 
have  unanimously  agreed  to  present  Lawrence  with  a  sword  set 
with  diamonds  worth  £750,  and  Captain  Robert  Clive  with  a 
similar  one  worth  £500  in  recognition  of  their  signal  military 
services.  Lawrence  is  to  be  informed  of  this,  and  when  the  sword 
is  received,  it  is  to  be  presented  to  him  in  Council.  As  soon  as 
demands  on  estates  of  persons  dying  in  India  are  satisfied,  the  net 
assets  must  at  once  be  written  off  the  general  books.  This  must  be 
especially  attended  to  in  the  case  of  officers  who  die  in  the 
Company's  service  as  the  claimants  are  usually  very  importunate. 
As  regards  the  estate  of  Captain  William  Richards  the  general 
books  show  500  Pags.  due,  but  as  that  amount  has  not  been  written 
off,  the  Company  has  advanced  to  his  relatives  who  are  needy  the 
the  sum  of  £150.     The  Bengal  ship  Oxford  arrived  February  II. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 

EAST  INDIA  HOUSE.     MARCH  2,  1754.     [Public  Despatches  from 
England,  Vol  57,  pp.  99— 109  {Original  II  pp.)] 

The  English  Squadron  for  India  under  the  command  of  Charles 
Watson,  Rear-Admiral  of  the  Blue,  is  composed  of  the  Kent  (Henry 
Speke,  64  guns),  Eagle  (George  Pocock,  60  guns),  Salisbury 
(Thomas  Knowles,  50  guns),  Bristol  (Thomas  Latham,  50  guns), 
Bridgewater  (William  Martin,  24  guns),  and  Kingfisher  sloop  (Best 
Mihell).  His  Majesty's  land  forces  on  the  men-of-war  and  on  the 
Company's  ships  Kent,  London  and  Britannia,  consist  of  Adlercron's 
regiment  815  strong,  with  a  detachment  of  78  men  and  officers 
from  the  Royal  Artillery  under  Captain-Lieutenant  William 
Hislop.  These  troops  will  be  embarked  at  Cork  under  the  super- 
vision of  Henry  Crabb  Boulton,  one  of  the  Directors.  Any  ill- 
treatment  of  the  Military  on  the  Company's  ships  should  be 
properly  reported.  The  Rear-Admiral  should  be  saluted  with 
15  guns  ;  and  the  Commodore,  in  his  absence,  with  13  guns.  Due 
respect  should  be  shown  to  all  Naval  officers  and  all  possible  help 
given  them.     During   Admiral  Watson's  stay  in  India,  he  should 


230  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

be  allowed  5  Pags.  a  day  to  meet  house-rent  and  table  charges. 
For  sums  advanced  to  Commanders  for  procuring  stores,  provisions, 
etc.,  bills  should  be  taken,  at  65.  6d.  a  weighty  dollar,  payable 
at  30  days'  sight,  drawn  on  the  Commissioners  of  the  Navy  or  on 
the  Commissioners  for  Victualling.  All  Squadron  accounts  should 
be  duly  adjusted  with  the  proper  officers  to  avoid  future  troubles. 
A  similar  course  should  be  adopted  in  the  case  of  His  Majesty's 
land  forces.  Colonel  Adlercron  and  his  officers  should  be  treated 
with  politeness,  and  special  care  taken  to  promote  good  feelings 
between  the  King's  and  Company's  troops.  Adlercron  is  to  receive 
5  Pags.  a  day  for  house-rent  and  table  charges.  As  it  will  be 
a  hardship  for  His  Majesty's  officers  and  men  to  serve  for  less  pay 
than  the  Company's,  authorize  payment  to  the  former,  on  the 
Company's  account,  of  allowances  equal  to  the  differences  between 
their  pay  and  that  of  Company's  people  ;  viz.,  Captains  at  2s.  a  day, 
Lieutenants,  Ensigns  and  the  Adjutant  at  Is.,  Serjeants,  etc.,  at  2d. 
each.  In  the  Royal  Artillery,  the  First  and  Second  Lieutenants  are 
to  receive  Is.  a  day  each,  Lieutenant-Fireworkers  &/.,  and  cadets 
and  gunners  2d.  Suitable  barracks  should  be  provided  for  them. 
Artillery  officers  should  be  furnished  with  boats  and  crews,  and  pro- 
vided with  convenient  magazines  and  store-houses.  The  French 
have  transmitted  a  new  project  of  the  Treaty  between  the  two 
Companies  in  answer  to  that  concerted  in  England  with  the  French 
Commissaries.  Conferences  have  begun  again,  but  the  Company 
cannot  judge  what  the  issue  is  likely  to  be.  Send  copies  of  the 
French  and  English  projects.  At  a  Conference  held  at  Whitehall 
on  February  19,  at  which  Holdernesse  and  Anson  met  Chauncy, 
Drake,  Burrow,  Mabbott,  and  Alexander  Hume  on  behalf  of  the 
Company,  it  was  resolved  that  the  English  in  India  should  only 
act  as  auxiliary  and  carefully  avoid  direct  hostilities  against  the 
French.  At  the  present  crisis  when  there  is  no  knowing  how 
events  may  shape  themselves,  the  Company's  affairs  must  be  left 
to  the*  integrity,  judgment,  and  circumspection  '  of  the  Council. 
Accordingly  appoint  Thomas  Saunders,  George  Pigot,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Caroline  Frederick  Scott,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stringer 
Lawrence,  Henry  Powney,  Robert  Orme,  Alexander  Wynch  and 
William  Percival  or  any  three  of  them  to  form  a  Select  Committee 
to  transact  the  Company's  affairs  with  the  Country  and  all  Euro- 
pean powers,  and  to  concert  all  military  plans  in  consultation  with 
His  Majesty's  Naval  and  Military  Commanders,  but  to  spend  no 
money  without  the  consent  of  the  majority  of  the  Council.     The 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753  1754  231 

Committee  is  to  meet  twice  a  week  or  oftener ;  its  proceedings  are 
to  be  recorded  separately  and  kept  secret.  Henry  Vansittart  is 
appointed  Secretary.  Repeat  instructions  for  employing  the 
transports  Kent,  London  and  Britannia.  If  one  or  two  of  them 
are  sent  to  China  they  should  be  loaded  with  Bohea  and  Singlo  tea 
and  Chinaware  for  flooring.  Among  other  articles  consigned  by 
the  transports  are  40  chests  of  treasure  to  be  employed  in  case  2 
of  them  should  be  sent  to  China.  Are  well  informed  that  the 
Commanders  of  Company's  ships  employed  in  Country  voyages  fill 
them  unreasonably  with  their  own  private  trade.  Hence  the  back- 
wardness of  people  to  freight  Company's  ships.  The  Council 
should  note  that  the  Company  has  a  right  not  only  to  the  chartered 
tonnage,  but  to  the  whole  actual  tonnage  less  3  %  allowed  to 
officers  on  their  privilege.  Have  permitted  the  Commanders  of  the 
transports  to  carry  35  or  40  pounds'  worth  of  trading  guns,  shot 
and  flints,  to  be  disposed  of  for  provisions  in  case  they  touch  at 
Madagascar,  but  otherwise  to  be  delivered  to  the  Council  at  Madras. 
The  '  orlopes  '  on  board  the  transports  are  to  be  taken  over  at 
prime-cost.  Consign  to  Madras  by  the  transports  1 10  tons  of  iron 
and  100  tons  of  lead. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India  House.    March   13,  1754.    [Public  Despatdies 

from  England,  Vol.  57,  p.  113  (Original  1  p.)] 

Colonel  Adlercron  is  entitled  to  a  salute  of  13  guns  on  landing 
at  Madras  or  any  other  settlement.  As  Commander-in-Chief  of  all 
His  Majesty's  land  forces  in  India,  he  should  be  shown  all  due 
honours. 

Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 
East  India   House.    March  15,    1754.    [Public   Despatches 

from  England,  Vol.  57,  pp.  115 — Il8  {Original  4  pp.).] 

Cite  despatches  of  February  15  and  March  2.  This  accom- 
panies Major  Heron  and  Robert  Orme  on  the  Bombay  ship  Warren 
which  also  brings  stores,  etc.,  for  His  Majesty's  forces  which  could 
not  be  laded  on  the  transports.  She  is  to  be  despatched  to  Bombay 
as  quickly  as  possible  in  order  that  she  may  serve  as  the  annual 
ship  from  thence  to  Canton  in  the  next  season.  She  may  carry  to 
Bombay  woolen  goods  not  saleable  at  Madras.  The  recruits  aboard 
her,  though  intended  for  Bombay,  may  be  detained  if  necessary. 
Send    by    her    for    delivery    to   Stringer    Lawrence,    the   King's 


232  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

commission,  dated  February  26,  1754,  as  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  the 
sword  to  be  presented  to  him  in  Council  with  a  copy  of  the 
Company's  resolution,  dated  February  6;  and  also  Fox's  letter 
permitting  Alexander  Heron  to  enter  the  Company's  service  on 
resigning  his  rank  in  the  Army  as  Lieutenant-Colonel.  Have 
appointed  John  Fabry,  Andrew  Crotty,  and  Stephen  Smith,  Cadets, 
in  which  rank  they  are  to  receive  pay  as  Serjeant.  Send  a  copy 
from  the  original  French,  of  the  French  Company's  observations 
upon  the  English  and  French  projects  ;  also  powers  and  instruc- 
tions for  holding  courts-martial  in  the  East  Indies  under  the  Act 
passed  in  this  Session  of  Parliament. 


Despatch  from  the  Company  to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc. 

LONDON.  MARCH  15,  1754.  [Public  Despatches  from  England, 
Vol.  57,  pp.  119— 122  {Original  4  pp.)] 
To  keep  the  Company's  troops  in  the  same  discipline  as  the 
King's,  Parliament  has  passed  an  Act  for  punishing  mutiny  and 
desertion  among  the  Company's  troops.  The  power  of  appointing 
courts-martial  is  vested  in  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  King's 
forces  so  long  as  those  forces  are  employed  on  the  Coast.  The 
Court  of  Directors  have  power  to  authorize  the  President  and 
Council  to  appoint  courts-martial  at  the  settlement,  and  to  autho- 
rise them  to  empower  the  Commander  of  any  detachment  to  do  the 
like  while  away  from  the  settlement.  Enclose  copies  of  the  Act 
and  Articles  of  War;  the  King's  commission  authorising  Colonel 
Adlercron  or  the  Commander-in-Chief  to  appoint  courts-martial; 
the  Company's  commission  authorising  the  President  and  Council 
and  the  Company's  Commanders  to  convene  them  ;  form  of  appoint- 
ment of  the  Judge-Advocate  and  instructions  for  the  same ;  and 
form  of  proceedings  of  the  courts-martial.  The  Act  and  the 
Articles  should  be  published  with  due  solemnity  ;  and  every  one  in 
the  company's  troops  must  be  given  the  option  of  continuing  in 
service  subject  to  these  Articles  of  War  ;  those  who  are  unwilling 
must  be  dismissed.  The  original  warrant  is  to  be  kept  by  the 
Council  and  a  certified  copy  furnished  to  Colonel  Adlercron. 
Courts-martial  are  convened  by  the  Judge-Advocate  under  verbal 
instructions  from  the  Commander.  Procedure  laid  down  may  be 
varied  if  necessary,  but  not  so  as  to  contravene  the  Act  and 
Articles  of  War.  Copies  of  proceedings  of  all  courts-martial  must 
be  sent  home. 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753-1754  233 

DESPATCH    FROM    THE  COMPANY  TO  THOMAS  SAUNDERS,   ETC. 

East  India  House.    April  3,  1754.    [Public  Despatches  from 

England,  Vol.  57,  pp.  123— 126  (Original  4  pp.)] 
Have  now  better  hopes  of  a  definitive  treaty  between  the 
English  and  French  Companies  in  Europe.  Pending  its  conclu- 
sion, a  provisional  treaty  should  be  entered  into  with  the  French 
Company's  Agents  in  India  for  a  cessation  of  arms,  on  condition 
that  neither  side  should  make  any  cessions  until  a  definitive  treaty 
has  been  made  in  Europe.  The  projects  of  the  Europe  treaty  will 
furnish  sufficient  data  for  framing  a  provisional  treaty  which 
should  clearly  stipulate  that  the  French  should  restore  to  the  Moors 
Masulipatam  and  Diu  Island  with  their  dependencies,  and  the 
grants  in  the  Deccan  and  the  Carnatic,  or  in  case  they  choose  to 
retain  Masulipatam,  Diu  Island  should  be  left  to  the  English.  The 
Select  Committee  will  conduct  negotiations  for  the  provisional 
treaty,  but  if  the  French  should  appoint  Commissaries  for  the 
purpose,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Scott,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lawrence, 
Orme,  Percival  and  Palk,  are  to  be  Commissaries  for  the  English, 
with  Vansittart  as  Secretary.  These  should  be  under  the  orders  of 
the  Select  Committee  and  keep  a  regular  account  of  their  proceed- 
ings. If  the  French  should  appoint  Commissaries  of  a  superior 
rank  to  those  named,  the  English  should  do  the  same.  The 
negotiations  are  to  be  conducted  at  a  neutral  place.  The  Commis 
saries  or  the  Select  Committee  should  not  conclude  any  provisional 
treaty  without  the  approval  of  the  Council.  All  their  proceedings 
should  be  regularly  sent  home,  to  assist  the  Company  to  make  a 
definitive  treaty.  Although  the  Company  disapproved  of  Palk's 
being  Commissary  in  the  Army,  have  included  him  among  the 
Commissaries  to  treat  of  peace,  owing  to  his  knowledge  of  French 
and  Latin,  and  his  acquaintance  with  the  political  situation.  As 
soon  as  the  Warren  arrives  at  Madras,  Bombay  should  be  informed 
by  pattamars  of  the  probable  date  of  her  despatch,  so  that  a 
convoy  may  be  sent  to  protect  her  from  Angria's  fleet.  Have 
appointed  John  Laverock  cadet,  in  which  rank  he  is  to  receive  pay 
as  serjeant.  The  Cumberland  (66  guns)  and  the  Tyger  (60  guns)  will 
shortly  follow  the  English  Squadron  to  take  the  place  of  the 
Eagle  and  Bristol  which  were  disabled  by  bad  weather.  Prescribe 
the  method  of  drawing  bills  for  sums  advanced  by  the  Company  to 
the  detachment  of  the  Royal  Artillery  under  Captain  Hislop. 
3° 


234  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

LETTERS   FROM   HENRY    CRABB    BOULTON    (ONE    OF    THE    DIR- 
ECTORS) to  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.    Cork.    March  25, 
AND  29,    1754.     [Public    Despatches  from   England,    Vol.  57,  pp. 
133-135  and  255—257  (Original  4  pp.)] 
Encloses  abstract  of  233  officers  and  private  men  of  Colonel 
Adlercron's  Regiment  and  of  the  detachment  (54)  of  the  Royal  Artil- 
lery, embarked  on  the  Company's  ships  Britannia  and  London. 

project  of  an  agreement    between    the  english  and 
French  East  India  companies,  delivered  to  Duvelaer. 
NOVEMBER  8,  1753    [Public    Despatches  from  England,  Vol.  57, 
PP'  303 — 308  (Copy  6  pp.) ;  also  Miltary  Despatches  from  England, 
Vol.  I,  pp.  71—77  (Copy  7  PP.)] 
As  a  result  of  their  alliances  with  the  Country  powers,  disputes 
have  arisen  between  the   English  and  French  Companies  on  the 
Coromandel  coast,  leading  to  hostilities,  in  spite  of  the  peace  sub- 
sisting between  England  and  France.     The  following  articles  are 
therefore  agreed  upon  : — 

1.  All  hostilities  shall  cease.  The  Companies  shall  confine 
themselves  to  commerce  and  shall  not  take  sides  in  any  dfspute 
arising  among  the  Country  powers. 

2.  Orders  shall  immediately  be  sent  out  to  stop  all  hostilities  ; 
and,  as  soon  as  the  Nawab  accedes  to  the  agreement,  all  troops  shall 
be  with  drawn  into  the  respective  territories  of  the  Companies. 

3.  All  prisoners  shall  be  restored.  The  English  will  if  desired 
use  their  good  offices  with  Muhammad  Ali  Khan  to  procure  the 
release  of  prisoners  taken  by  him  and  entrusted  to  their  care.  All 
guns  taken  to  be  restored  ;  and  deserters  may  return  to  their  former 
service  on  condition  of  paying  any  debts  they  have  contracted. 

4.  Trade  shall  be  carried  on  on  the  same  footing  as  before  1744. 

5.  Muhammad  Ali  Khan  shall  be  recognized  as  the  Nawab  of 
Arcot  by  both  the  Companies.  The  French  shall  never  support  the 
cause  of  any  rival  either  directly  or  indirectly.  Chunda  Sahib's 
family  must  not  be  allowed  to  remain  at  Pondichery  or  in  any  other 
French  settlement.  The  Nawab  shall  protect  the  Companies  in  the 
possession  of  their  territories. 

6.  The  Viceroy  of  the  Deccan,  the  Nawab  of  Arcot  and  the 
King  of  Tanjore  shall  be  invited  to  accede  to  this  agreement ;  and 
on  the  Nawab's  doing  so,  all  places  in  the  province  of  Arcot  in  the 
possession  of  either  Company  shall  be  restored  to  him,  except  their 
ancient  possessions  and  the  Poonamallee  country,  Villiyanallur  and 
Valudavur  (See  article  8.) 


CALENDAR  FOR  1753-1754  235 

7.  The  Bahur  fort  shall  be  pulled  down  and  its  territory  restored 
to  the  Moors. 

8.  The  French  shall  hold  Pondichery  with  its  ancient  territories 
and  the  districts  of  Villiyanallur  and  Valudavur,  and  the  English 
shall  extend  their  territories  in  the  Poonamallee  country  to  the 
same  degree  as  the  French  extend  theirs  round  Pondichery. 

9.  In  Tanjore,  the  English  shall  hold  Devikottai  and  the  French 
may  possess  Nagore. 

10.  Divi  Island  and  Masulipatam  shall  be  evacuated  by  which- 
ever Company  is  in  possession  of  them  and  be  delivered  up  to  the 
Moors.  All  fortifications  recently  raised  shall  be  demolished  unless 
the  Moors  desire  any  to  be  retained.  The  two  Companies  may, 
without  prejudice  to  the  existing  rights  of  other  European  Com- 
panies, establish  factories  at  Masulipatam,  but  shall  not  keep  more 
troops  there  than  may  be  agreed  upon  as  absolutely  necessary  for 
their  protection. 

11.  The  two  Companies  shall  apply  to  their  respective  Sovereigns 
for  a  ratification  of  this  agreement. 

Memorial  of  Observations  on  the  English  Project  by 
the  French  Company.  Paris.  February  4,  1754.  [Public 
Despatches  from  England,  Vol.  57,  pp.  325 — 339.  {Copy  of  trans- 
lation, 15  pp.);  translation  also  in  Military  Despatches  from  England, 
Vol.  I,  pp.  87—IOI.] 

The  French  company  are  willing  to  make  sacrifices  to  secure 
peace  on  the  Coromandel  coast,  but  cannot  agree  to  the  English 
project  as  it  contains  provisions  which  injure  the  dignity  of  the 
French.  They  have  been  obliged  therefore  to  draw  up  a  new  pro- 
ject. This  memorial  is  intended  to  show  the  defects  of  the  English 
project.  The  stipulation  in  the  English  project,  article  I,  that 
neither  Company  should  interfere  in  Moorish  disputes,  should  form 
the  basis  of  the  agreement.  Under  articles  I  and  2  of  the  English 
project,  the  Nawab  of  Arcot  could  prevent  the  Company's  forces 
being  withdrawn  into  their  territories  merely  by  refusing  to  accede ; 
and  as  the  English  control  the  Nawab  they  would  remain  mas- 
ters of  peace  or  war  in  defiance  of  the  treaty.  The  other  stipulation 
in  the  articles  that  troops  shall  withdraw  into  their  respective 
territories,  is  a  very  inconvenient  course  inasmuch  as  it  involves 
an  instantaneous  surrender  of  all  conquests  without  any  assurance 
from  the  Moorish  Princes  that  they  will  accede  to  the  treaty. 
The  stipulation  in  article  3  causes  much  offence.  Why  should  the 
French  alone  be  asked  to  surrender   their  conquests  to  the  Nawab, 


236  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

while  the  Nawab  is  not  bound  to  surrender  the  prisoners  and  guns 
taken  from  them?  This  is  an  unheard  of  stipulation,  and  the 
French  will  certainly  neither  cease  hostilities  nor  give  up  Gingee 
until  the  return  of  their  prisoners  and  artillery  is  agreed  to.  The 
stipulations  regarding  the  use  of  good  offices  by  the  English  are 
unbecoming.  As  to  article  5  regarding  recognition  of  Muhammad 
Ali  Khan  as  the  Nawab  of  Arcot,  this  is  directly  contrary  to  the 
principle  of  non-interference.  It  is  the  Viceroy  of  the  Deccan  or 
the  Moghal  Emperor,  and  not  the  Companies,  who  should  determine 
which  Indian  Prince  is  the  lawful  Nawab  of  Arcot.  Whatever  the 
right  may  be  possession  is  a  clear  matter.  So  the  only  Nawab  which 
Companies  as  traders  should  recognize  is  the  reigning  Nawab, 
Consequently  so  long  as  Muhammad  Ali  Khan  continues  as  Nawab, 
the  French  will  not  attempt  to  revenge  their  wrongs  upon  him. 
But  in  case  he  should  be  dispossessed,  neither  Company  shall 
attempt  to  reinstate  him.  If  the  English  insist  on  a  continuance 
of  war,  the  French  would  rather  continue  to  fight  Muhammad  Ali 
Khan  than  any  other  prince  on  his  behalf.  If  Muhammad  Ali  Khan 
were  dispossessed,  it  would  no  doubt  be  advantageous  to  the 
French,  but  the  English  would  find  their  advantage  in  escaping 
from  a  war  which  otherwise  they  would  have  to  carry  on  against 
the  French  and  all  the  Country  powers.  .The  French  Company 
mean  Muhammad  Ali  by  the  Nawab  of  Arcot,  but  his  name  should 
not  occur  in  a  treaty  that  is  to  be  communicated  to  othei  Country 
powers.  Similarly  the  name  of  Chunda  Sahib  should  also  be 
omitted.  As  a  strong  proof  of  their  good  disposition  towards 
Muhammad  Ali,  they  have  agreed  to  surrender  Gingee,  etc.,  and 
they  cannot  make  any  more  concessions.  As  regards  the  10th 
article  of  the  English  project,  how  far  the  French  are  anxious  for 
peace  may  be  clearly  seen  from  the  sacrifice  they  are  ready  to 
make  in  surrendering  such  important  places  as  Masulipatam  and 
Divi  Island  to  the  Moors,  in  exclusion  of  all  other  European 
nations.  But  the  French  cannot  admit  the  English  claim  to  the 
Divi  Island.  No  titles  have  ever  been  produced  and  the  French 
hold  a  letter  from  the  Governor  of  Madras  to  the  Subahdar  of  the 
Deccan  applying  for  a  grant  of  it.  The  terms  used  regarding 
Masulipatam  in  the  English  project  are  too  obscure  to  pass.  The 
French  can  make  no  further  concessions  for  peace  than  the  surren- 
der of  these  two  places. 

A  new  project  is  therefore  necessary.  The  first  article  of  the 
French  project  relates  to  the  cessation  of  hostilities.  The  troops 
are  to  be  withdrawn  into  the  territories  actually  held,   so  that  the 


CALENDAR  FOR   1753  ^754  237 

evacuations  may  be  deferred  till  the  Nawab  has  performed  his 
share  in  the  treaty.  Article  2  is  designed  to  secure  a  good  harmony 
in  India.  The  principle  of  non-interference  is  taken  from  the 
English  project.  The  formal  disavowal  of  disturbing  Indian  Princes 
in  their  governments  prevents  the  French  from  supporting  any 
rival  of  Muhammad  AH.  The  observation  of  this  article  would 
have  prevented  all  the  hostilities  which  have  taken  place.  The 
sincerity  of  the  French  is  further  proved  by  their  renunciation 
of  the  command  of  the  country  from  the  Kistna  to  Cape  Comorin 
granted  to  Dupleix.  Article  3  relates  to  the  places  to  be  held 
in  Tanjore  and  the  Carnatic.  Poonamallee  has  been  omitted 
because  the  French  do  not  know  how  far  it  is  from  Fort  St.  George. 
Gingee  and  Trichinopoly  are  specifically  mentioned  as  being  keys 
of  the  province  of  Arcot.  Article  4  relates  to  the  conditions  on 
which  the  restitution  shall  be  made  to  the  Nawab  of  Arcot.  Equal 
treatment  of  the  Companies  by  the  Nawab  has  been  stipulated  with 
a  view  to  prevent  any  one  Company  from  gaining  undue  advantages. 
Article  5  relates  to  the  renunciation  of  Masulipatam  andDivi  Island. 
It  is  made  on  the  understanding  that  they  should  never  hereafter 
be  possessed  by  any  European  nation.  Article  7  provides  measures 
to  be  taken  in  case  conventions  have  been  made  in  India.  The 
stipulations  made  in  Europe  relating  to  the  mutual  interests  of  the 
two  Companies  shall  have  the  preference  of  any  agreements  made 
in  India  contrary  thereto.  But  all  engagements  made  in  India  with 
regard  to  the  Moors  ought  to  be  maintained,  because  these  cannot 
be  annulled  without  endangering  the  peace.  By  the  separate 
article  peace  may  be  established  between  the  two  Companies  in- 
dependently of  the  accession  of  the  Country  powers.  The  project 
has  been  drawn  so  as  to  make  it  clear  that  both  the  Companies  are 
anxious  to  secure  peace.  The  French  are  prepared  to  make  many 
sacrifices  without  demanding  one  from  the  English.  If  therefore 
their  proposals  are  not  accepted,  the  continuation  of  war  cannot  be 
charged  upon  them. 

Project  of  a  convention    between   the    English  and 
French   East  India  Companies,  received  from  Duve- 

LAER,    FEBRUARY  12,  1754.     [Public  Despatches  front  England, 

Vol  57,  pp.  309—316  (French  copy)  ;  and  pp.  317 — 324  translation 

appended;  translation  also  in  Military  Despatches  from  England, 

Vol.  I,  pp.  79—85-1 

I.  All  hostilities  shall  cease.     All  troops  in  the  Carnatic  shall 

be  recalled.     All  prisoners  and  guns  taken  shall  be  restored.     For 

the  present  and  in  future,  deserters  of  each  nation  shall  on  demand 


238  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

be  restored  on  condition  that  their  lives  shall  be  spared.  (If  the 
English  Company  do  not  agree  to  a  cartel  for  the  future,  article  3 
of  the  English  project  may  be  followed.)  The  Viceroy  of  the 
Deccan,  the  Nawab  of  Arcot,  the  King  of  Tanjore  and  other  Country 
powers  interested  in  the  late  troubles,  shall  be  invited  to  ratify  this 
convention,  for  which  purpose  copies  thereof  shall  be  sent  to  India 
as  early  as  possible. 

2.  As  the  two  Companies  are  resolved  to  maintain  peace  and 
harmony  and  to  confine  themselves  to  trade,  they  agree  to  avoid 
taking  sides  in  any  disputes  between  the  Country  powers,  mutually 
to  assist  each  other  in  opposing  any  interruption  of  trade,  and  to 
carry  on  commerce  in  their  respective  settlements  on  the  same 
footing  as  before  1744.  In  consequence  the  two  Companies  re- 
nounce both  now  and  in  future  any  Moorish  or  Indian  dignity  which 
may  give  the  officers  in  India  any  authority  over  the  possessions  of 
the  Country  powers. 

3.  In  addition  to  their  ancient  possessions,  in  Tanjore  the 
English  may  possess  Devikottai  and  the  French  Nagore;  and 
in  the  Carnatic,  the  French  shall  hold  Villiyanallur  and  Valudavur; 
and  the  English  shall  hold  an  equal  extent  of  territory  round  Fort 
St.  George.  All  other  possessions  shall  be  restored  to  the  Nawab 
of  Arcot. 

4.  Under  article  3,  territories  shall  only  be  restored  to  the  Nawab 
of  Arcot  in  agreement  with  the  arrangements  which  the  Chiefs  of 
the  two  Companies  in  India  shall  make  for  their  evacuation.  The 
French  Company  will  only  surrender  the  territory  it  holds  after 
the  liberation  of  the  French  prisoners  and  the  restoration  of  the 
guns  taken,  and  after  the  Nawab  shall  have  acceded  to  the  present 
treaty  and  agreed  to  restore  any  places  he  may  have  conquered 
from  those  who  may  have  opposed  him.  Moreover  he  shall  promise 
to  treat  both  Companies  impartially. 

5.  The  French  agree  to  evacuate  the  town  of  Masulipatam  as 
several  European  nations  possess  factories  there.  It  will  also 
evacuate  Divi  Island,  but  it  reserves  to  itself  all  the  other  conces- 
sions made  to  it  in  the  Deccan.  Neither  Company  shall  maintain 
in  their  factories  at  Masulipatam  more  troops  than  are  needed  for 
protection. 

6.  The  retrocessions  of  the  several  territories  to  the  Country 
powers  shall  be  made  by  the  two  Companies  simultaneously  after 
the  destruction  of  all  new  fortifications. 

7.  In  case  the  Country  powers  shall  have  come  to  any  agree- 
ment,  that  agreement   shall    be  carried  out  provided   it  does  not 


CALENDAR  FOR  17531754  239 

conflict  with  the  present  treaty.  And  in  case  the  Governors  of  the 
two  Companies  have  entered  into  any  agreement  which  they 
unanimously  consider  to  be  more  beneficial  to  the  two  Companies 
than  the  present  treaty,  they  shall  refer  the  same  to  Europe  for 
settlement. 

8.  The  two  Companies  shall  apply  to  their  respective  Sovereigns 
for  a  ratification  of  this  treaty. 

Secret  and  separate  article. 

In  case  the  Subahdar  of  the  Deccan  or  the  Nawab  of  Arcot 
refuses  to  ratify  this  convention,  this  shall  not  be  made  a  pretext 
for  delaying  the  evacuations  herein  agreed  on,  save  that  in  no  case 
shall  Gingee  be  evacuated  till  all  French  prisoners  and  guns  taken 
have  been  given  up ;  but  should  the  case  foreseen  in  the  present 
article  arise,  all  fortifications  in  the  territories  to  be  evacuated  shall 
be  destroyed. 

The  English  observations  on  the  French  project  of  a 

TREATY.  NO  DATE.  [Public  Despatches  from  England,  Vol.  57, 
pp.  341 — 345  (Copy  4%  pp.);  Copy  also  in  Military  Despatches 
from  England,  Vol.  I,  pp.  103 — 106.] 

It  proposes  that  the  Nawab  shall  deliver  to  the  English  all  French 
prisoners  and  artillery  to  be  handed  over  to  the  French  as  soon  as 
they  evacuate  Gingee.  By  the  second  article  a  union  is  proposed 
between  the  Companies  in  terms  which  may  be  interpreted  as 
involving  an  offensive  and  defensive  alliance  :  the  Chiefs  in  India 
should  be  left  to  decide  when  to  act  together.  In  article  3  an  in- 
vidious distinction  is  made  as  regards  the  titles  on  which  Devi- 
kottai  and  Nagore  are  held.  The  expedients  proposed  under  article 
I  apply  to  article  4  also.  The  English  cannot  admit  the  French 
claim  in  article  5  to  the  territory  of  over  12,724  square  miles  round 
Masulipatam.  Its  revenues  would  enable  the  French  to  crush  the 
English.  The  cession  of  Masulipatam  matters  nothing  so  long  as 
they  hold  the  country  round.  In  the  past  they  endeavoured  to  get 
the  English  factories  at  Ingeram  and  Madapollam  ruined.  Unless 
the  French  are  willing  to  confine  themselves  to  their  ancient  limits, 
we  had  better  continue  the  war.  Throughout  the  French  project, 
the  names  of  Muhammad  Ali  Khan  and  Chunda  Sahib  are  omitted. 
The  explanation  of  this  in  the  memorial  is  frivolous,  while  there  is 
no  doubt  that  in  the  War  of  the  Austrian  Succession  Dupleix  was 
the  first  aggressor  against  the  Nawab. 


THE    MADRAS  DESPATCHES,   1754-1755. 


DESPATCH  FROM  THOMAS  SAUNDERS,  ETC.,  TO  THE  COMPANY. 
FORT  St.  GEORGE.  NOVEMBER  10,  1754.  [Public  Despatches 
to  England,  Vol.  20,  pp.  I— 5 1  (Copy  5 1  pp.)} 

Cite  despatches  of  February  7  and  March  9.  Acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  despatches,  dated  November  28,  December  19,  1753, 
January  23  and  31,  February  15,  March  2,  13  and  15,  and  April  3, 
1754,  and  of  letters  from  Henry  Crabb  Bolton,  dated  March  25  and 

29,  I754- 

Report  arrivals  and  departures  of  the  St.  George,  Stafford,  Triton, 
Onslow,  Essex,  True  Briton,  llchester,  Mont/ort,  Denham,  York,  Anson, 
Britannia,  Warren,  Winchelsea,  London,  Kent,  Colchester,  and  Syren 
and  Cuddalore  sloops.  This  goes  by  the  Norfolk.  The  Porto  Bello 
sloop  has  been  kept  on  the  Coast  for  use  as  an  advice  ship  if 
necessary.  As  the  Brilliant  snow  is  believed  lost,  the  Prince  George 
is  the  only  ship  for  Coast  service.  Have  been  obliged  to  complete 
the  lading  of  ships  with  saltpetre  owing  to  the  calamities  of  the 
times.  Are  only  able  to  lade  the  present  ship  now,  and  half  a  ship 
in  January.  An  extra  cargo  will  be  provided  by  250  tons  of 
Sumatra  pepper  and  Mocha  coffee  from  Bombay.  It  is  difficult  to 
employ  Company's  ships  in  India  at  present,  as  the  Country  trade 
has  suffered  in  the  same  way  as  the  Company's,  cloth  being  bad 
and  dearer.  Any  ship  remaining  in  India  will  have  to  be 
employed  on  the  Company's  account.  As  none  would  freight  the 
Kent,  Britannia,  and  London,  they  have  been  sent  to  Bengal  for  rice. 
The  Dragon  lost  her  passage.  The  surgeon,  gunner  and  carpenter 
of  the  Bombay  Castle  have  been  sent  to  the  Negrais.  Saunders  will 
reply  to  the  letter  from  the  Secret  Committee. 

Deficiencies  in  treasure  have  been  made  good.  Only  2  out 
of  the  3  cases  containing  parts  of  the  powder-mill,  have  been 
received.  Have  received  the  '  orlopes  '  on  2  of  the  transports,  but 
not  the  nails  and  planks  as  they  have  been  used.  Have  landed  30 
pipes  of  Madeira  extra  for  the  special  use  of  the  junior  servants. 
It  has  been  issued  to  them"  at  52  Pags.  a  pipe,  while  at  outcry  it  was 
sold  at  67^2  Pags.  The  capacity  of  a  pipe  of  wine  is  said  to  be 
115  gallons,  but  on  measurement  it  was  found  to  hold  no  more  than 
Hit  gallons.     As  to  badness  of  redwood,  suspect  that  the  better 


CALENDAR  FOR   1754-1755  241 

sorts  are  picked  out  and  sold   to  Macao  ships  and  private  traders 
for  China  ;  have  forbidden  any  sale  to  private   persons.     Enclose 
an  estimate  of  the  cost  of  the  Coast  services.     All   the  treasure 
consigned  to  Bengal  has  been   forwarded.     Have  been   unable  to 
sell  all  the  broadcloth  ;   and  the  market  has  been  bad  in  Bengal 
also.     Request  to  be  supplied  with  no  more  than  can   be   helped! 
Lead  and  iron  sold  for  13  Pags.,  and  copper  for  88  Pags.  per  candy. 
Have  consigned  to  Bengal  the  lead  and   iron  by  the  London  and 
Britannia  and  the  timber  and  planks  by  the   Colchester  and  Porto 
Beth,    as   they  find  better  sale  there.     Purchased  2,542  bags  of 
saltpetre   at  the  Bengal  price  from  Captain   Durand   (master  of  a 
Country  ship).     Have  accepted  a  bill  for  24,000  Spanish    dollars 
from  the  supercargoes  at  Mocha,  and  have  drawn  on  Bombay  for 
the    amount.     Have   sent    20   coffree    male    slaves    to    Sumatra. 
Enclose  Assay-master's  letter.     A  bag  containing  984  oz.  of  silver 
'said  to  be  estimates  '  is  2%   dwts.  worse  than   usual.     It  having 
been  usual  for  a  candy   to  vary  according  to   the  kind  of  mer- 
chandise, have  fixed  the  weight  of  it.     Captain  Greenville's  treasure 
may  have  been  overcarried  for  want  of  proper  instructions,  but  the 
Sea  Customer  will  in  future  see  that  everything  mentioned  in  the 
manifest  is  landed  and  put  in  the  warehouse  till  claimed.    Enclose 
a  list  of  books  desired  for  the  Company's   servants,  and  request 
as  many  more  on  all  other  parts  of  literature  as  may  be  thought  fit. 
Deficiencies,  etc.,   in   goods  have   been  made  good   by  persons 
responsible.     Have   tried    our  best  to  improve  the    cloth  and  to 
lower  the  price;  but  as  'our  rivals  in   trade  '  take  in  all  sorts  of 
cloth,  we  are  doing  the  same  but  at  a  reduced  price.    Cannot  provide 
'  sicashes  '  for  it  is  not  known  what  they  are  ;  the  merchants  are 
providing   '  siccatoons '.     Are   much    concerned   to    see   that   the 
Company    is  dissatisfied  with   the    method   of  investment.     The 
practice  always  has  been  to  invite  the  most  substantial  merchants 
to  take  up  the  investment  which  they   did,  less  for  profit  than  for 
the    'gratification   of     a    peculiar    vanity'    of   being   considered 
Company's  merchants.     'The  wearing  of  a  long  coat,  a  couple   of 
peons  with  the  Company's  badges  and  other  little  marks  of  distinc- 
tion, '  are  privileges  on  which  they  set  a  high  value.     Benyon  will 
confirm  this.     As  there  is  a  lack  of  substantial  men  in  Black  Town 
ever  since  the  loss  of  Madras,  have  been  obliged  to   contract  with 
the  old  merchants.     While  the  troubles  continue  it  is  not  possible 
to  reduce  the  price,  and  all  that  can  be  done  is  to  influence  the 
merchants  to  bring  in  as  much  cloth  as   possible.     The  method  of 
31 


242  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

giving  the  investment  to  the  best  bidders  will  however  be  followed, 
though  it  will  probably  render  a  considerable  balance  uncertain 
should  petty  merchants  undertake  the  investment.  Are  enquiring 
about  the  possibility  of  a  cloth  investment  at  Devikottai.  Cannot 
provide  much  cloth  either  at  Madras  or  Fort  St.  David.  The 
Marathas  have  devastated  the  Northern  parts,  so  that  little  can  be 
expected  thence.  Three  months'  suspension  of  arms  may  assist 
matters. 

The  affairs  at  the  Negrais  have  not  improved.  Taylor  has 
returned  here  sick  ;  Knapton  has  gone  sick  to  Bengal;  Lieutenant 
Bilhock's  life  is  despaired  of ;  the  doctor  is  very  ill ;  and  few  men 
are  capable  of  duty.  The  selection  of  a  marshy  site  surrounded 
by  woods  perhaps  accounts  for  this.  The  north-east  point  is  said 
to  be  healthy.  Persaine  is  decidedly  healthier  but  is  70  miles  up 
the  river.  In  April  last,  an  agreement  was  made  with  the  deputies 
of  the  Uppu  Raja  by  which  the  English  would  receive  the  Negrais 
and  a  settlement  at  Persaine  with  a  district  round  it ;  but  it  has  not 
yet  been  ratified.  Have  sent  the  King  of  Pegu  and  Uppu  Raja 
palankins,  etc.,  as  presents.  Brooke  should  however  cultivate 
friendship  with  the  Burmese  also  as  they  might  defeat  the  Peguers 
at  any  time.  Will  send  by  the  January  ship  the  plans  of  the 
Negrais  and  Persaine. 

The  fortifications  at  Madras  and  Fort  St.  David  will  be  carried 
on  by  Engineer  John  Brohier.  The  Devikottai  fort  has  been 
repaired.  Have  sanctioned  the  construction  of  a  wall  from  the 
flag-staff  on  Martin's  battery  to  'Tonary's  '  [Tournery's]  battery  at 
Vizagapatam  ;  and  Thomas  Heath  is  in  charge  of  the  work.  The 
powder-house  is  almost  finished,  and  the  powder-mill  which  pro- 
duces 500  lbs.  a  day  is  under  John  de  Rose,  a  German  skilled  in  pow- 
der-making. The  machine  will  be  setup  in  another  place.  Lieute- 
nant Bishop  will  supervise  both.  Have  appointed  a  Committee 
to  consider  the  purchase  of  materials  for  the  works.  The  assess- 
ment proposed  by  the  Company  would  prevent  inhabitants  from 
settling  at  Madras.  It  was  considered  that  the  letting  of  the 
Madras  farms,  on  the  re-establishment  of  the  Presidency,  at  the 
full  amount  they  were  ever  let  for,  was  a  successful  piece  of  work  ; 
and  regret  that  the  Company  disapproves.  In  future  they  shall  be 
sold  in  accordance  with  the  Company's  orders.  Have  remitted 
8,882  Pags.  to  the  renters  of  Tiruvendipuram.  Arrears  of  Madras 
farms  are  irrecoverable.  The  Chintadripet  people  pray  for  the 
abolition  of  the  pagoda  duty,  on  their  discharging  the  Company's 


CALENDAR  FOR  1754-1755  243 

debts.  Have  abolished  the  tax  on  imports  and  exports  for  the 
up-keep  of  the  Chicacole  choultry.  The  refund  of  consulage  paid  on 
exporting  rice  from  Bengal  will  reduce  the  sea-customs  collected  at 
Madras.  The  Poonamallee  country  has  been  rented  for  44,000 
Pags.  or  9,000  more  than  the  previous  year.  The  Nawab  has 
mortgaged  to  the  English  6  countries  contiguous  to  Madras  which 
are  farmed  as  follows : — Poonamallee  kille  for  4,200  Pags.  ; 
the  Seven  Maganams  for  20,000  Pags.;  Manimangalam  for  14,000 
Pags. ;  Covelong  for  8,000  Pags.;  and  Chingleput  for  26,000 
Pags.  Have  also  secured  a  Jaghir  of  14  villages,  hitherto 
attached  to  the  Killedar  of  Poonamallee,  on  conditions  that  we 
maintain  peons  for  keeping  peace  and  that  we  allow  1,000  Pags. 
a  year  to  his  widow.  Have  accepted  the  privilege  of  a  nawbat 
and  music  on  condition  of  receiving  villages  to  meet  the  charges. 
Propose  that  one  of  the  confiscated  houses  may  be  set  apart  to 
accommodate  visitors  and  covenanted  servants  on  their  first  arrival, 
as  they  are  now  obliged  to  stay  in  a  punch-house. 

For  the  safety  of  your  settlement  on  this  Coast,  have  detained 

the  officers  and  soldiers  intended  for  Bengal  and  Bombay  and  also 

received  further  reinforcement  of  soldiers  and   sepoys  from  those 

places.    They  will  be  returned  as  soon   as  the  troubles   are  over. 

The  Swiss  recruits  have  been  allotted  to  the  3  companies  under 

Captains  Polier,  Schaub  and  Gaupp.     The  Captains  claim  clothing 

profit  on   their  full  complement  of  men.     Enclose  correspondence 

on    the   subject.     Saunders   and   Lawrence    are  sensible     of   the 

Company's   esteem ;  there   is    now  a    perfect    harmony   between 

them.      Pigot    arrived  here    from   Vizagapatam   on    October    16. 

Regarding  the  fraud  said  to  have  been   attempted  by  two  of  the 

councillors,   it  was  a  malicious  report  against   Cooke  and  Smith, 

made  by  John  Moor,  the  carpenter,  who  was  dissatisfied  with  the 

reduction  of  his  pay.     Have  employed   Palk,  though  Chaplain,  as 

Paymaster  for  the  Army  and  afterwards    as  Deputy  at    Sadras, 

because   of  his    capacity    and    prudence.     As  he  has  been  very 

serviceable,  especially  in  the  negotiations  at  Tanjore,  and  as  it  was 

expected  that  he  would  be  employed  again,  he  has  been   presented 

with    a    diamond   ring   worth    1,000   Pags.     On   being  relieved  by 

Major  Heron,  Lawrence  returned  into    garrison.     Have  delivered 

him  the  commission  and  presented  him  with  the  sword  for  which 

he   returns    his   thanks.     Colonel  Scott   on    arrival  declined    the 

command  of  the  Army.     He  died  of  fever  shortly  after  landing. 

On  hearing  our  distress  for  an  officer,  Sir  James  Foulis  voluntarily 

came  round  [from  Bombay].    Recommend  Captain  Grierson,  master 


244  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

of  the  Porto  Bello,  for  good  conduct.     Have  recommended  frugality 
to  the  Company's  servants.    None  under  a  factor  keeps  horse,  chaise 
or  palankin.     On  enquiry  into  their  morals,  none  appears  to  merit 
reproach.     Dawsonne  Drake  under  the  plea  of  ill-health   refuses 
to  relieve  Walsh  in   Sumatra  ;  he  has  once   before  refused  to  go 
thither ;  he  will  be  suspended  if  he  does  not  go  in  January.     As 
Warehouse-keeper  at  Fort    St.   David,    Cooke    has   neglected   to 
re-sort   the  goods  before  packing,  and  on    being  made  responsible 
for    the    loss,    he    refused    to    attend    to  his  duties  and  has  been 
suspended.     Have  replaced    him  as   Second  at  Fort  St.  David,  by 
Charles   Turner,    although    Samuel    Ardley    was   senior   in   rank. 
Pybus  remains  in  sole  charge  of  Sumatra.   Pigot,  Orme  and  Percival 
have  taken  their  seats  in  Council.     Charles  Boddam  is  appointed 
Chief  of  Vizagapatam ;  John    Lewin  Smith  as  Second  ;  and  Mar- 
maduke   Best   as   Third   there.     Have    appointed   Henry   Powney 
Import      Warehouse-keeper    and     Sea-Customer ;     Robert     Orme 
Export   Warehouse-keeper   and    Accountant  and  Commissary  to 
keep   the   Nawab's    accounts;    Alexander  Wynch    Store-keeper; 
the     last     three     contractors    for    supplying    provisions    to    the 
Army  ;  William  Percival  Land-Customer ;  John  Smith  Paymaster 
and    Military     Paymaster  ;     Charles    Bourchier     Military    Store- 
keeper, Rental-General  and  Scavenger;  Dawsonne  Drake  Upper- 
Searcher ;    and   John     Walsh    Under-Searcher     at   the   Sea-gate. 
Henry  Vansittart  is  Secretary   to  the   Select  Committee.     Richard 
Fairfield  has  gone  to   Fort  St.    David   as   Councillor,   and  James 
Alexander  takes  his  place  as  Sub-Accountant.     John  Browning  has 
been  appointed  Register  of  the  Sea-gate  vice  Charles  Turner.     On 
Palk's  return,  Andrew  Newton  was  appointed  Resident  at  Tanjore. 
Samuel    Banks    died    August    10;  and    Peter   St.  Paul,  April  29. 
Captain  James  Killpatrick  was  made  a  Major  on  July  20,  to  take 
Lawrence's  place  as  Commander  of  the  Company's  forces.    Granted 
Captain's  commissions  to — John  Innes  (March  25),  Joseph  Smith 
(March  26),  James  Spears  (April  22),  George  Beaver  (August  27),  and 
Alexander  Callender  (October  7) ;  Lieutenant's  commissions  to — 
John  North  (March  25),  Daniel  Campbell  (March  26),  John  Fraser 
(March    27),    Andrew    Craig     (April    22),    and    William    Bishop 
(September  30) ;  and  Ensign's  commissions  to — John  Clarke  (March 
25),  George  Airey  (March  26),  Bryan   Scottney  (April  22),   Simon 
Hart  (April  23),  John   Henry  Meyers  (June  17),  and  Joseph  Darke 
(June  18).     Captain  Timothy  Bridge  of   the  Bengal   establishment 
acts   as  Adjutant  at  Madras.     Among  the  Swiss,  Claud    Phillip 
Lullin   was    promoted    Second    Lieutenant  of    Gaupp's   company, 


CALENDAR  FOR  1754-1755, 


245 


April  8;  Ferdinand  Jaegar  as  Ensign  of  Gaupp's  company  (June 
10)  ;  Daniel  Frischman  de  Basle  as  Ensign  of  Schaub's  company, 
April  8.  In  the  Artillery,  Lieutenant  Benjamin  Godwin  was 
appointed  Quartermaster,  March  25  ;  the  Troop  of  Horse  is  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant  David  Baron  de  Vasserot  of  Captain 
Zeigler's  company.  Caroline  Frederick  Scott  died  May  12 ; 
and  Captain  John  Crompton  March  24.  Captain  Benjamin 
Pigou  was  killed  before  Trichinopoly,  August  17.  Captain 
Donald  Campbell  has  resigned  his  commission  and  returns 
to  Europe.  Lieutenant  John  Harrison  was  promoted  Captain 
Lieutenant  April  22,  and  died  June  29  ;  Lieutenant  Thomas  Brown 
died  September  25  ;  and  Ensign  John  Conrad  Heydecker  is  dead. 
Intend  to  deprive  Lieutenant  Stephen  Augustus  de  Monchanin  of 
his  commission,  for  protesting  to  Colonel  Lawrence  in  the  field  on 
supersession  by  officers  from  Europe.  Tyso  Saul  Hancock,  long- 
employed  as  surgeon  at  Fort  St.  David  and  other  subordinate 
settlements,  should  succeed  James  Wilson.  Enclose  a  general 
return  of  the  military  and  a  list  of  covenanted  servants.  Although 
the  number  of  the  latter  is  what  used  to  be  considered  a  full  supply, 
it  is  now  necessary  to  employ  monthly  writers  as  well.  Desire  6 
or  8  more.  Refer  to  Consultations  of  October  24  for  perquisites 
attached  to  the  several  posts.  Trust  that  the  Company  won't 
deprive  them  of  these  emoluments.  It  is  only  after  long  and 
faithful  services  at  considerable  sacrifice  of  health  and  comforts 
that  Company's  servants  reach  posts  of  emoluments.  A  decent 
living  costs  a  man  1,098  Pags.  a  year — 

Palankin  and  horse       132 


Dhoby  and  barber 
Dubash,  cook,  etc. 
House  expenses. 

Dress  

Liquors      

House-rent 


36 

30 

480 

150 

90 

180 


The  allowances  of  junior  servants  are  scarcely  enough  to  feed  and 
clothe  them  as  well  as  common  soldiers  ;  and  for  any  comforts,  they 
have  to  depend  upon  their  friends.  Though  fortunes  have  lately 
been  acquired  they  have  been  '  got  out  of  the  common  road.'  Those 
who  have  misrepresented  us  have  done  so  out  of  selfish  motives. 

The  book  of  Standing   Orders   has  been  brought  up  to  date. 
The  omission  to  get  the  Consultations  signed  was    due  to  pressure 


246  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

of  work  and  lack  of  writers.  Consider  that  Shawmier  Sultan's 
bond  should  be  paid.  Enclose  a  list  of  estates  written  off  to  account 
current  London.  Send  extracts  from  Coja  Petrus'  will  bequeathing 
the  Vepery  Church  to  Padre  Severini.  We  consider  he  has  a  just 
title  for  it.  Advances  to  Captain  Roger  Mainwaring.  Have 
received  2,602  Pags.  of  Empson's  property.  Have  taken  security 
for  2,592  Pags.  due  from  John  Stratton. 

Sumatra  affairs. 

Richard  Fairfield  on  being  appointed  to  Fort  St.  David  resigned 
his  place  as  Alderman  and  the  Mayor's  Court  accepted  the  resig- 
nation. It  is  not  clear  whether  the  Court  can  do  this.  The 
Mayor's  Court  have  tried  to  insist  on  carrying  into  execution  a 
sentence  delivered  by  the  old  Court,  against  which  the  defendants 
Haji  Abd-ullah  Hadi  Sahib  and  Pallum  Kutti  Chetti  had  appealed. 
They  therefore  claim  the  right  to  appeal  to  the  new  Court  of 
Appeals.  The  Court  of  Appeals  hold  that  the  former  appeal  is  still 
pending  and  that  the  Mayor's  Court  cannot  proceed  in  the  case. 
The  Mayor's  Court  reply  that  the  Court  of  Appeals  can  do  nothing 
because  all  the  former  proceedings  are  lost.  Disclaim  the  least 
intention  of  exceeding  the  legitimate  authority  of  Council  as  the 
Court  of  Appeals. 

His  Majesty's  ships  Kent,  Salisbury,  Bridgewater  and  King  Fisher 
and  the  Company's  transports  arrived  at  Fort  St.  David  about  the 
middle  of  September.  His  Majesty's  troops  were  landed  in  good 
health.  The  surgeons  were  refused  head-money  for  want  of  a 
precedent.  Due  honours  were  shown  to  Admiral  Watson  and 
Colonel  Adlercron- 

Supplement :  Bombay  cannot  help  in  the  disposal  of  Madras 
broadcloth,  as  they  still  have  a  large  quantity  unsold  and  as  they 
expect  twice  what  they  indented  for.  Captain  Bonham  requests 
that  the  deficiency  of  33  coils  of  cordage  may  be  adjusted  in 
England.  Have  ordered  the  payment  to  the  heirs  of  David  Hunter 
of  the  sums  of  2,000  Rs.  and  110  Pags.  which  he  had  disbursed  on 
the  Company's  account  but  not  entered  in  the  books.  Recommend 
that  another  Rs.  2,000,  his  private  money  which  he  lost  in  the 
coffree  insurrection,  may  be  paid  to  his  heirs  in  consideration  of 
his  services.  Have  laden  1,361  bales  and  200  tons  of  saltpetre, 
valued  at  153,600  Pags.  Diamonds,  etc.,  registered  amount  to 
184,151  Pags.  Captain  Bonham's  private  trade  amounts  to  5,951 
Pags.  Have  in  Cash  7,372  current  Pags.,  and  506  Madras  Pags.  ; 
and  in   the  Treasury,    11,708  pounds  of  silver,  752,031   Arcot  Rs., 


CALENDAR  FOR  1754  1 75 5  247 

3,235  Madras  Rs.  and  176,000  current  Pags.  Lieutenant  William 
Bishop  died  this  morning. 

Postscript :  Bills  drawn  on  the  Company  amount  to  1,078  Pags. ; 
and  the  certificates  to  698  Pags. 

Appended  are  : — (1)  register  of  diamonds,  etc.  ;  (2)  manifest 
of  private  trade,  and  (3)  list  of  the  packets. 

Separate  [?]  Despatch  from  Thomas   Saunders,  etc.,  to 
the  Company.     Fort  St.  George.  November  10,    1754. 

[Public  Despatches  to  England,  Vol.  19,  pp.  69— 80  {Copy  11%  pp.), 
Damaged ;  also  The  French  in  India,  Vol.  2,  pp.  129 — 145.  {India 
Office  transcript.)] 

The  effects  of  the  destruction  of  the  escort  at  Trichinopoly 
already  reported  were  almost  fatal.  The  fort  was  ill-provisioned. 
The  troops  were  few  in  number,  obliged  almost  daily  to  go  for- 
aging, and  almost  surrounded  by  a  superior  enemy.  They  only 
escaped  destruction  by  the  gallantry  of  the  officers  and  the  bravery 
of  the  men.  Captain  Polier  was  wounded  in  an  action  to  protect 
a  convoy  ;  but  Captain  Caillaud  who  succeeded  to  the  command 
bravely  made  his  way  through  with  his  supplies.  The  King  of 
Tanjore  had  withdrawn  his  troops;  and  the  most  persuasive 
arguments  were  used  to  induce  him  to  rejoin  the  English  ;  his 
general  Manoji  repulsed  the  Marathas  after  they  had  plundered  a 
part  of  Tanjore ;  but  he  continued  wavering,  terrified  by  the  threats 
and  promises  of  Mysore,  Morari  Rao,  and  the  French,  although 
averse  to  the  Mysorean  acquisition  'of  Trichinopoly.  Palk  was 
sent  to  Tanjore  to  urge  the  ill-consequences  of  his  inactivity  ; 
Lawrence  marched  and  camped  near  the  capital  ;  and  this  roused 
him  to  resolve  to  join  the  Nawab.  But  soon  afterwards  the  Tanjore 
leader,  Gadi  Rao,  was  surprised  by  the  Marathas  near  Tirukkattup- 
palli  and  suffered  considerable  loss.  This  delayed  matters  while 
fresh  troops  were  being  levied.  Meanwhile  the  English  drafted 
every  man  that  could  be  spared  from  Arcot,  Chingleput  and 
Madras,  to  Devikottai  under  Captain  Pigou,  who  joined  Lawrence 
at  Tanjore.  Part  of  the  reinforcements  sent  from  Bombay  were 
also  sent  to  Devikottai;  the  rest  however  were  detained  to  be 
joined  with  the  recruits  ready  to  be  sent  into  the  field,  and 
despatched  under  Captain  Forbes  to  Conjeveram,  where  they  were 
to  march  with  Mahfuz  Khan  who  had  a  considerable  body  of 
horse.  However  the  latter  wasted  time  with  excuses,  even  after  he 
hadjbeen  given  half  a  lakh  of  rupees  with  the    promise  of  another 


248  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

half  lakh  when  he  reached  Devikottai.  So  Forbes  was  at  last 
ordered  to  proceed  without  him.  Mahfuz  Khan  followed  sometime 
after,  and  on  the  Coleroon  was  attacked  by  the  enemy  who  cap- 
tured his  baggage  and  some  men.  Lawrence,  after  collecting  a 
large  store  of  provisions,  marched  to  Trichinopoly,  drove  the 
French  off  by  a  short  cannonade,  threw  most  of  his  stores  into  the 
Fort,  and  a  few  days  later,  forced  the  enemy  across  the  Cauveri. 
In  the  Arcot  country  the  English  have  had  a  subaltern  with  a 
party  of  men  in  the  field  to  prevent  raids.  There  have  also  been 
skirmishes  round  Chidambaram — a  place  occupied  by  the  French 
and  which  threatens  our  communications  with  Devikottai.  These 
are  all  the  military  operations  that  took  place,  up  to  the  suspension 
of  arms.  The  French  are  said  to  be  recalling  their  troops  from 
Srirangam.  The  Nawab's  army  will  probably  march  to  Fort  St. 
David  as  soon  as  Trichinopoly  is  provisioned. 

The  Moghal  has  been  dethroned  by  the  son  of  Ghazi-ud-din 
Khan,  he  and  his  mother  blinded,  and  his  uncle  proclaimed 
Emperor. 

Salabat  Jang  came  no  further  south  than  Hyderabad.  It  is 
said  that  his  troops  are  few  and  ill-paid,  and  he  himself  short  of 
money.  Bussy,  having  left  a  few  troops  behind,  has  gone  to 
Rajahmundry  to  collect  the  rents  of  the  provinces  '  said  to  be 
mortgaged  to  him  for  24  lakhs.'  He  has  farmed  these  out  to 
Vijayaram  Raz  for  18  lakhs  ;  but  as  the  districts  were  plundered  by 
the  Marathas,  nothing  much  has  yet  been  collected.  '  A  dispute 
between  Jafar  Ali  Khan  and  Viziaramrazu  was  improved  by  the 
French  to  turn  them  out  and  possess  the  government  themselves.' 
The  incursion  of  the  Marathas  was  brought  about  by  Jaffar  Ali 
Khan.  Vijayaram  Raz  is  with  the  French,  severely  repenting  his 
entanglement  with  them.  Both  he  and  Jaffar  Ali  have  asked  for 
English  help  ;  and  if  possible  this  will  be  given.  It  was  expected 
that  Balaji  Rao  would  have  visited  the  Carnatic  ;  but  he  came  no 
nearer  than  Mysore  where  he  levied  a  valuable  contribution. 
Should  he  come  into  the  Carnatic,  cannot  say  which  side  he  will 
take,  for  a  Marafha  always  chooses  the  side  on  which  he  will  get 
most.  The  Nawab  and  the  King  of  Tanjore  made  an  agreement 
with  Morari  Rao  to  leave  the  French  and  go  home,  for  which 
Tanjore  would  pay  him  three  lakhs  and  the  Nawab  would  make 
him  certain  grants.  That  was  some  time  ago,  but  he  marches 
slowly,  raising  contributions  on  his  way,  and  has  only  got  as  far 
as  Polur.     Doubt  much  whether  he  will  continue  his  march.     He 


CALENDAR  FOR  1754-1755  249 

has  offered  to  join  the  English  for  1%  lakhs  a  month  ;  but  this 
is  more  than  can  be  afforded.  The  French  are  said  to  owe  him  9 
lakhs;  so  expect  there  will  be  no  reconciliation  with  them,  unless 
the  King  of  Mysore  finds  the  money.  Morari  Rao  wishes  the 
English  to  guarantee  this  treaty  with  theNawab;  but,  as  Eastern 
princes  '  make  such  terms  in  adversity  as  they  never  mean  to 
observe  in  prosperity,'  shall  try  to  avoid  doing  so.  The  Nawab  is 
distressed,  the  English  his  only  help,  and  his  debt  great.  The 
Company  will  see  what  districts  have  been  taken  over  as  security. 
Will  obtain  more  as  favourable  opportunities  occur.  The  English 
have  every  claim  on  the  Nawab's  gratitude,  and,  should  his  affairs 
prosper,  Council  believes  they  may  rely  on  his  friendship.  The 
King  of  Tanjore  acts  as  justly  'as  Eastern  politicks  allow.'  Both 
French  and  English  have  settlements  in  his  kingdom,  and  should 
the  King  of  Mysore  get  Trichinopoly,  he  would  become  a  danger- 
ous neighbour.  Hence  the  irresolution  in  the  Tanjore  policy  :  he 
seems  to  distrust  the  English  less  than  either  of  the  other  powers  ; 
but  '  his  unsteady  motions  must  be  carefully  watched.'  The  King 
of  Mysore  is  regarded  as  the  richest  and  most  powerful  Prince  that 
pays  tribute  to  the  Moghal ;  but  in  spite  of  his  extensive  territory, 
'  ambition  and  avarice  prompted  him  to  his  scheme  on  Trichino- 
poly.' The  King  is  young,  and  all  the  power  lies  in  the  hands  of 
the  Dalaway,  whose  brother  commands  the  Mysore  troops  at 
Srirangam.  The  expedition  has  cost  great  sums  ;  but  though  the 
Mysoreans  are  reputed  tenacious,  they  have  been  beaten  so  often, 
and  trust  the  French  so  little,  that  they  would  have  withdrawn 
long  ago  but  that  the  Dalaway's  brother  fears  for  his  life  should 
he  acknowledge  his  defeat  by  withdrawal.  Murtaza  Ali  Khan 
'who  has  had  the  address  to  murder  two  Nawabs  and  go  un- 
punished,' is  called  by  Dupleix  his  Deputy.  He  has  acknowledged 
theNawab,  and,  being  an  artful,  dangerous  man,  cannot  be  trusted, 
but  should  not  be  made  into  an  enemy. 

Have  received  the  several  projects  for  a  treaty ;  and  will  follow 
them  in  the  negotiations  with  Godeheu,  who  reached  Pondichery 
July  30.  On  August  I  he  wrote  to  Saunders  announcing  his 
arrival,  and  proposing  a  suspension  of  arms.  The  English  agreed 
and  suggested  the  exchange  of  views  as  the  basis  for  a  Conference. 
Godeheu  seemed  to  hesitate  as  the  French  shipping  arrived  ;  but 
on  the  arrival  of  part  of  the  English  Squadron  at  Fort  St.  David,  he 
agreed  to  a  suspension  of  arms  for  3  months  from  October  II. 
Then  the  English  sent  four  proposals  ;  and,  after  some  inconclusive 
32 


250  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

correspondence,  general  proposals,  which  were  answered  by 
a  memorial  and  proposals  from  Godeheu.  There  were  consider- 
able differences,  principally  in  the  French  demand  to  retain  their 
Northern  grants.  The  Company  had  forbidden  any  cessation  of 
arms  without  their  abandonment ;  so  the  English  invited  Godeheu 
to  state  precisely  what  these  grants  were.  He  replied  that  he 
would  reserve  all  such  as  could  not  be  proved  to  be  detrimental  to 
the  English  and  suggested  a  Conference.  The  English  have 
suggested  Sadras  as  the  meeting  place,  and  those  named  by  the 
Company  as  Commissaries  are  to  set  out  between  November  15  and 
20.  The  English  will  insist  on  discussing  first  the  question  of  the 
Northern  grants,  as  on  that  depends  the  possibility  of  coming  to 
terms.  Doubt  whether  the  French  will  agree  to  both  sides  giving 
up  all  their  new  acquisitions  and  being  content  with  their  old 
grants  and  a  moderate  addition.  They  show  no  disposition  to 
make  sacrifices,  as  they  call  it.  The  only  plan  seems  to  be  to 
offer  English  help  to  Salabat  Jang  on  condition  of  receiving 
grants  equal  to  those  of  the  French  ;  but  that  in  the  present  state 
of  affairs  is  hardly  feasible.  Unless  peace  should  be  concluded 
at  home,  the  most  vigorous  measures  must  be  taken  to  carry  on 
the  war. 

His  Majesty's  ships  Kent,  Salisbury,  Bridgewater  and  King  Fisher 
have  arrived  ;  the  Cumberland  and  Tiger  are  still  expected.  The 
Squadron  was  stationed  at  Fort  St.  David,  and  all  necessary 
information  was  afforded  to  Watson.  He  was  too  unwell  to  visit 
Madras  in  person,  but  sent  Captain  Speke  to  confer  with  the 
Council.  As  it  was  thought  essential  that  the  Squadron  should 
return  to  the  Coast  as  early  as  possible,  it  was  proposed  that  the 
capital  ships  should  winter  to  the  eastward  and  the  smaller  ones 
in  the  Hugli ;  but  as  Watson  was  ordered  to  Bombay,  he  sailed  for 
that  port  on  October  II  with  the  Kent  and  Salisbury,  and  ordered 
the  Bridgewater  and  King  Fisher  to  Bengal.  His  conduct  indi- 
cates'that  he  will  afford  all  the  assistance  in  his  power. 

Colonel  Adlercron  considers  that  his  powers  are  more  extensive 
than  appears  from  the  Company's  despatches.  He  has  sent  a 
copy  of  the  King's  Instructions,  where  he  is  mentioned  as  '  Com- 
mander-in-Chief of  the  land-forces  to  be  employed  in  the  East 
Indies,'  directed  to  take  command  of  all  the  Company's  forces 
on  the  Coast  of  Coromandel,  and  ordered  to  take  the  title  of 
'  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  troops  of  the  East  India  Company ' 
in  correspondence  with  Foreign  powers.     He  has  refused  to  accept 


CALENDAR  FOR  1754-1755  251 

or  answer  letters  unless  he  is  given  this  title  ;  and  has  written  to 
the  Deputy  Governor  of  Fort  St.  David  that  he  can  go  no  further 
than  allow  him  to  give  the  word  of  the  clay.  In  their  despatch  of 
March  2,  1754,  the  Company  refers  to  him  as  'Commander-in- 
Chief  and  'Commander-in-Chief  of  His  Majesty's  land-forces,' 
and  also  mentions  that  it  has  appointed  the  Governor  Commander- 
in-Chief  [of  the  Company's  troops].  The  Council  considered 
that  harmony  with  the  King's  officers  was  essential  to  the  Com- 
pany's affairs,  and  desired  Adlercron  to  visit  Madras  for  a 
conference.  He  deputed  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bagshaw  to  come. 
Adlercron  has  agreed  not  to  interfere  with  the  Company's  settle- 
ments or  the  garrisons  in  them  till  His  Majesty's  pleasure  is 
known. 

General  discontent  among  all  ranks  of  the  King's  troops 
regarding  the  allowances  regulated  by  the  Company.  Adlercron 
protested  that  he  had  ordered  his  agent  to  stipulate  for  £1,000  a 
year.  The  '  gentleman  cadets '  especially  were  dissatisfied  at 
receiving  only  2  d.  a  day.  When  the  Company's  orders  were 
represented  to  Bagshaw,  he  answered  that  the  Company  evidently 
meant  to  put  the  King's  troops  on  the  same  footing  as  their  own, 
but  that  this  had  not  been  done,  doubtless  for  lack  of  information  ; 
that  living  was  very  expensive  ;  and  that  harmony  could  not  be 
expected  while  the  King's  troops  were  worse  off  than  the  Com- 
pany's, especially  as  every  officer  knew  what  allowances  were 
made  to  Boscawen's  people.  In  consideration  of  the  urgent  need  of 
harmony,  have  put  the  King's  troops  on  the  same  footing  as  the 
Company's,  in  accordance  with  a  regulation  delivered  in  by 
Bagshaw,  until  the  Company's  pleasure  is  known.  Trust  that 
these  proceedings  will  be  approved. 

Have  heard  nothing  of  any  Emden  ship  yet ;  a  private  trader 
has  arrived  from  Lisbon ;  hope  the  scheme  will  drop  for  lack  of 
encouragement. 

Dupleix  attended  Council  only  once  after  Godeheu's  arrival, 
and  that  was  to  announce  his  departure  for  Europe.  He  embarked 
with  his  family  on  the  Due  d'  Orleans — it  is  not  known  whether  he 
was  under  arrest.  His  schemes  have  certainly  violated  '  the  laws 
of  the  Country  government '  and  tended  to  ruin  all  European 
settlements;  but  if  his  policy  is  adopted  by  Godeheu,  he  will 
appear  excusable  in  the  eyes  of  the  world. 

Ten  ships  have  reached  Pondichery  this  year,  of  which  3  have 
been   despatched  to  the    Isles,   it    is    believed,  for    Europe.     The 


252  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

French  have  received  2,500  recruits  or  more  ;  and  with  their  former 
forces  and  the  prisoners  in  English  hands,  there  must  be  4,500  or 
5,000  French  soldiers.  Believe  all  the  Company's  ships  could 
bring  out  60  or  80  men  each ;  suggest  that  it  would  be  better  to 
send  out  recruits  in  the  Company's  service  instead  of  King's  troops. 
The  Captains  that  have  come  out  in  the  Company's  service  all  say 
that  they  could  have  enlisted  as  many  men  as  they  pleased.  The 
welfare  of  the  English  settlements  depends  on  their  military  force. 
Desire  as  large  a  reinforcement  as  possible.  The  French  have 
received  near  double  the  number  of  recruits  that  the  English  have 
received,  even  supposing  that  all  the  King's  troops  arrive. 

Despatch  from  Thomas  Saunders,  etc.,  to  the  Company. 

Fort  St.  George.    January  12, 1755.    [Public  Despatches  to 

England,  Vol.  20,  pp.  73~ 78  {Copy  6  pp.)] 
This  is  an  additional  despatch  by  the  Norfolk.  Reported  in  the 
first  despatch  that  a  provisional  treaty  was  likely  to  be  concluded. 
But  to  our  great  surprise,  Godeheu  declined,  saying  that  he  had 
advices  from  France  of  April  10  that  Lord  Holdernesse  had 
told  the  Duke  of  Mirepoix  that  no  Treaty  could  be  negotiated  in 
India  and  that  the  Companies  are  issuing  fresh  orders.  The 
Norfolk  was  therefore  ordered  to  be  detained  on  the  Coast  till 
definite  news  could  be  sent.  In  order  to  bring  matters  to  a  crisis, 
proposed  a  truce  (dependent  on  a  provisional  treaty)  to  continue 
till  orders  are  received  from  Europe.  Palk  and  Vansittart  were  sent 
in  a  private  capacity  to  furnish  any  necessary  explanations,  and 
to  require  positive  answer  in  3  days.  The  proposals  were  accepted 
and  when  digested  into  regular  form  were  signed.  The  Truce 
was  proclaimed  on  the  1st  January.  Enclose  copies  of  the  Treaty, 
etc.  The  main  considerations  for  making  a  Truce  are  the  infinite 
superiority  of  the  French  force,  their  great  influence  with  the 
Country  powers,  and  the  impossibility  of  a  meret  trading  Company 
continuing  to  bear  all  expenses  of  war.  If  war  had  continued,  the 
French  by  means  of  their  cavalry  could  have  protected  their  own 
territories  and  raided  ours  also ;  whereas  we  might  have  lost  our 
own  districts  in  attempting  to  seize  theirs.  Further,  the  revenues 
remaining  in  the  Nawab's  power  will  probably  enable  him  to 
reduce  his  debt.  Expect  that  the  Company's  investment  both 
here,  at  Fort  St.  David  and  at  Salem,  will  now  revive  and  that  the 
demand  for  imports  from  Europe  will  increase.  All  except  the 
necessary   garrisons  in   the  Country  forts  will  be  ordered  in  ;  and 


CALENDAR  FOR  1754-175S  253 

all  batta  stopped.  The  sepoys  will  be  quartered  in  the  Nawab's 
territories  at  his  expense.  The  French  prisoners  will  either  be 
sent  home  or  sent  to  Bombay  or  kept  in  garrisons  at  their  charge. 
The  Nawab  and  his  family  will  be  induced  to  reside  at  Arcot.  On 
obtaining  an  estimate  of  his  revenue,  as  large  a  part  of  it  as  pos- 
sible will  be  applied  to  reduce  his  debts.  Shall  endeavour  to 
avoid  all  disputes  and  appoint  Commissaries  to  settle  any  that 
may  arise.  As  the  French  keep  a  large  force  at  Pondichery,  the 
greater  part  of  the  King's  troops  will  be  at  Fort  St.  David  ready 
to  take  the  field  should  there  be  any  rupture.  The  Squadron  will 
probably  be  on  this  Coast  unless  Bombay  needs  its  services. 
Although  a  settlement  of  the  disputes  with  Colonel  Adlercron 
was  arrived  at  when  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bagshaw  came  here, 
Adlercron  subsequently  disowned  it ;  but  on  coming  here  to  settle 
final  operations,  declared  that  he  would  not  interfere  in  the  Com- 
pany's forts  and  garrisons.  Since  October,  the  French  have 
marched  a  party  of  180  Europeans  to  the  North,  and  the  English 
have  ordered  400  soldiers  and  1,500  sepoys  from  Trichinopoly  to 
Fort  St.  David  His  Majesty's  ships  Cumberland  and  Tiger  arrived 
here  on  December  20,  with  sickly  crews.  The  latter  sailed  to  Fort 
St.  David.  Bombay  and  Bengal  shipping  news.  The  French  ship 
Magault  arrived  from  France  at  Mahe  on  October  1 7.  The 
Winchelsea  will  be  sent  to  the  Coast  from  Bengal ;  but  will  not  find 
more  than  800  or  900  bales  to  take  in.  The  Burmese  are  reported 
to  have  advanced  as  far  as  Prone  and  may  probably  recover  their 
government.  Enclose  a  cypher  which  when  necessary  will  be 
used.  Saunders  tenders  his  thanks  to  the  Company  for  its  appreci- 
ation of  his  services.  His  ill-health  compels  him  to  return  to 
Europe  on  this  ship. 

Appended  are  : — (1)  a  list  of  the  packet ;  and  (2)  sailing  orders 
to  Captain  Pinson  Bonham  of  the  Norfolk. 

Despatch  from  George  Pigot,   etc.,  to  the   Company. 
Fort  St.  George.  February  i,  1755.    [Public  Despatches 

to  England,  Vol.  20,  pp.  82 — 84  {Copy  3  pp.)] 

This  goes  from  Pondichery.  Cite  despatch  of  January  12  by  the 
Norfolk  which  sailed  on  January  14.  From  the  time  of  Godeheu's 
arrival  negotiations  for  peace  were  going  on,  but  it  was  only 
towards  the  end  of  September  that  a  provisional  Treaty  for  peace 
and  a  Truce  were  agreed  on  between  the  English  and  the  French. 
Petty  disputes  have  arisen  about  tributes  due  from  the  Trichi- 
nopoly   poligars,    but    hope  they    will    soon    be    settled    without 


254  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

embroiling  ourselves  with  the  French.  Have  stopped  the  batta  in 
all  out-garrisons  and  ordered  the  Army  to  come  in  after  accom- 
panying the  Nawab  to_Arcot.  Godeheu's  reasons  for  returning  to 
Europe  immediately  is  to  prevent  others  from  hindering  a  final 
accommodation.  The  new  Governor  De  Leyrit  is  expected  shortly 
from  Bengal.  Meanwhile  '  Bartholomew,'  Second  at  Pondichery, 
will  manage  affairs.  The  Coast,  Bay  and  China  ships  arrived  and 
were  duly  despatched.  Bombay  and  Bengal  shipping  news.  The 
Kent  and  Britannia  will  bring  rice  from  Bengal.  His  Majesty's 
ships  Kent,  Salisbury,  Bridgezvater  and  King  Fisher  sloop  arrived  safe 
on  this  Coast.  To  avoid  the  monsoon,  the  2  former  proceeded 
to  Bombay  and  the  2  latter  to  Bengal.  The  Kent  arrived  here 
on  January  if.  The  Cumberland  and  Tiger  arrived  here  on  Decem- 
ber 20,  with  their  crews  sickly. 

Appended  is  a  list  of  the  packets. 

Despatch  from  George   Pigot,  etc.,    to  the   Company. 
FORT   St.    GEORGE-    MARCH   8,   1755.     [Public  Despatches  to 
England,  Vol.  19,  pp.  80— 84    {Copy  4  pp.)  Damaged.) 
A  provisional  Treaty  has  been  concluded  with  the  French,  as 
reported  in  the  despatch  of  January  12.     In  order  to  reduce  expen- 
ses have  struck  off   all  batta  in  the  out-garrisons — at  Arcot  and 
Chingleput  from  February  1  ;  at  Trichinopoly  from  March  I.     The 
French  prisoners,  formerly  victualled  at  English  expense,  are  now 
maintained  from  Pondichery.     Of  the  bullocks  collected   at  Fort 
St.  David  for  His  Majesty's  Train,  part  have  been  returned  to  their 
former  owners  and  the  rest  sold. 

For  the  sake  of  the  Nawab's  revenues  the  Army  has  had  to  keep 
the  field  longer  than  was  intended.  The  Madura  and  Tinnevelly 
poligars,  who  used  to  pay  considerable  sums  to  Trichinopoly,  refus- 
ed to  pay  their  tribute  though  acknowledging  that  they  held  their 
governments  by  the  Nawab's  farmans.  On  February  4,  ordered 
Colonel  Heron  to  move  towards  Madura.  Hope  the  poligars  will 
submit  on  the  first  news  of  his  march.  Have  desired  the  Nawab 
to  order  the  poligars'  tribute  to  be  paid  to  Heron  and  the  Nawab's 
Commissary  jointly,  to  be  applied  to  the  payment  of  his  debt.  The 
Arcot  poligars  are  also  indebted  to  the  Government,  and  similar 
measures  are  needed  with  them.  Abd-ul  Wahab  Khan,  the  Nawab's 
brother,  who  is  in  charge  of  these  parts,  has  applied  for  help;  but 
as  he  is  suspected  of  applying  his  collections  to  his  private  use, 
shall  send  none  till  the  Nawab  comes  up,  which  he  means  to  do 
when  the  Madura  expedition  is  finished.     As  many  complaints  were 


CALENDAR  FOR  1754-1755  255 

made  by  both  the  French  and  the  Nawab  of  villages  being  seized 
after  the  suspension  of  arms,  Saunders  and  Godeheu  agreed  to 
appoint  Commissaries  to  investigate.  They  met  at  the  beginning 
of  February  and  the  inquiry  is  proceeding.  No  agreement  has  yet 
been  reached  regarding  a  single  village  ;  the  French  seem  disposed 
to  protract  matters,  in  order  to  keep  possession  as  long  as  possible 
of  villages  they  have  no  right  to ;  shall  insist  on  the  revenues  of 
the  disputed  villages  being  received  by  both  parties  jointly  until 
the  matter  is  settled. 

Salabat  Jang  has  moved  south  from  Hyderabad  with  a  large 
army,  with  both  Bussy  and'Law.  [Passage  wanting.]  [Morari  Rao  ?] 
who  lately  left  the  Arcot  country  seems  disposed  to  return,  and 
is  trying  to  seize  all  the  forts  beyond  Arcot  which  command  the 
road  from  Gooty  into  the  Carnatic.  Shall  endeavour  to  prevent 
this.  The  King  of  Tanjore  is  occupied  in  repairing  the  ravages 
suffered  by  his  country.  The  Dalaway  is  still  at  Srirangam  with  a 
large  body  of  horse.  He  can  hardly  hope  to  take  Trichinopoly 
which  now  has  provisions  for  near  12  months  in  store.  But  as  it  is 
'  the  grand  security  for  the  Company's  debt,'  have  ordered  Heron  to 
leave  a  garrison  of  500  men  there  under  Major  Killpatrick,  when 
the  army  marches  up  into  this  province.  A  cartel  for  the  return  of 
deserters  has  been  arranged  with  the  French,  and  a  similar  agree- 
ment is  under  discussion  with  the  Dutch.  [Passage  wanting.] 
[After  the  exchange  of  prisoners  ?]  the  Nawab  will  still  have  about 
700  French  men.  Godeheu  proposed  their  being  sent  to  Europe, 
but  as  he  would  not  agree  to  the  English  terms,  the  matter  dropped. 

DESPATCH  FROM  GEORGE  PlGOT,  ETC.,  TO  THE  COMPANY.  FORT 
ST.  GEORGE.  MARCH  10, 1755.  [Public  Despatches  to  England, 
Vol.  20,  pp.  86—119     {Copy  34  pp.)] 

Cite  despatches  of  November  10,  17^4,  and  January  12  and 
February  I,  1755.  Bengal  has  sent  grain,  provisions  and  161  work- 
people, etc.,  to  the  Negrais  on  the  Denham.  The  Britannia  arrived 
here  from  Bengal  on  February  7  with  rice,  and  the  Kent  is  daily 
expected.  Both  the  ships  will  be  sent  to  China  with  20  chests  of 
treasure  on  each.  Owing  to  the  depression  of  trade  are  unable  to 
return  them  to  Europe  this  season  or  let  them  out  to  freight.  As  the 
Winchelsea  arrived  half-laded  from  Bengal  on  February  9,  will 
be  unable  to  complete  her  lading  with  bales  by  at  least  90  tons  ; 
the  deficit  will  be  made  up  with  saltpetre.  The  Cuddalorc  sloop 
lost  her  passage  to  the  Negrais  and  put  in  at  Vizagapatam.  Have 
not  heard  of  the  Porto  Bello  since  she  sailed  for  Bengal  on  October 


256  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

27.  The  Dragon  sloop  was  driven  ashore  in  October  near  Fort 
St.  David,  but  there  are  hopes  of  getting  her  out.  Have  no  news 
yet  of  the  reported  Emden  ship. 

The  '  orlopes'  and  the  trade  guns  on  the  transports  have  been 
duly  delivered.  Have  ordered  the  sale  of  the  last  year's  stock  of 
rice,  as  a  large  supply  is  expected  from  Bengal.  Although  a  large 
quantity  of  copper  dodoos  and  cash  was  coined  only  a  few  years 
ago,  a  scarcity  of  copper  coins  has  been  felt  of  late  both  here  and 
at  Fort  St.  David.  On  inquiry  it  was  found  that  whenever  the 
market  price  of  copper  exceeded  the  value  of  the  copper  coins,  the 
latter  were  melted  down  for  sale,  so  that  the  cost  of  mintage 
averaging  26  %  has  been  a  sheer  loss  to  the  Company.  To  prevent 
such  malpractices,  have  now  reduced  the  weight  of  the  dodoos; 
in  other  words  made  the  nominal'exceed  the  intrinsic  value  so  that 
it  will  not  be  worthwhile  to  melt  them. 

As  regards  woolen  goods,  we  have  been  unable  hitherto  to  sell  a 
bale  of  what  we  have  received  this  season.  Consider  that  the  large 
consignments  recently  made  will  ruin  the  woolen  trade  in  India, 
if  continued,  as  the  merchants  will  fear  to  buy  any  considerable 
quantity  lest  the  price  should  be  reduced  by  further  sale,  before 
they  have  got  rid  of  their  stock.  Also,  sales  in  small  lots  at  public 
outcry,  depress  the  price.  At  the  sale  on  February  12,  no  one 
offered  to  take  a  single  bale,  although  the  principal  merchants 
offered  to  buy  the  whole  at  the  price  fixed  by  the  Company. 
Believe  that  the  Company's  interest  suffers  by  its  lack  of  confidence 
in  the  Council.  Have  now  in  stock  1,500  bales,  and  should  more 
arrive  will  have  more  than  can  be  sold  in  two  years,  unless  one 
season  is  allowed  to  pass  without  any  being  sent  out;  and  the 
Company  must  lose  the  interest  for  one  year  on  one  year's  supply 
as  well  as  the  decline  in  value  of  the  cloth  by  keeping. 

An  investment  in  Devikottai  would  not  be  advantageous,  as  it 
would  interfere  with  that  at  Fort  St.  David.  The  latter  has  been 
disappointing,  and  has  supplied  only  204  bales  for  this  ship.  Had 
expected  that  the  Truce  would  permit  the  merchants  to  get  much 
Salem  cloth.  They  promised  600  bales  but  provided  only  100,  in 
spite  of  considerable  advances.  The  Fort  St.  David  merchants 
have  been  bringing  in  large  quantities  of  cloth,  but  on  a  re-sorting, 
only  10  bales  were  found  to  befit  to  be  taken  at  any  price.  Shall 
take  steps  to  compel  the  merchants  to  clear  off  their  balances. 
200  bales  have  been  received  from  Vizagapatam,  94  from  Ingeram 
and  127  from  Madapollam.  These  investments  would  have 
been  larger  but  for  an  insistance  on  exact  measurements.     Do  not 


CALENDAR  FOR  1754-1755  257 

understand  how  the  French  can  benefit  by  buying  short  cloth  at 
high  prices,  if  cloth  of  full  measurement  cannot  be  sold  to  advantage 
in  Europe.  In  Madras  only  223  bales  have  been  secured  in  spite 
of  every  effort  to  procure  more.  Though  convinced  that  the  old 
practice  of  employing  Company's  merchants  would  be  more  advan- 
tageous, in  obedience  to  the  Company's  orders  have  invited  pro- 
posals, and  four  proposals  have  been  received.  The  first  is  from 
Sunku  Rama,  etc.,  and  this  is  acceptable.  The  second  is  objec- 
tionable as  coming  from  a  Fort  St.  David  merchant.  The  third 
is  from  a  man  of  no  credit  whose  object  is  merely  to  get  advances 
from  the  Company.  The  last  offer  is  from  a  petty  merchant,  who 
grew  rich  by  unfair  means  during  the  French  occupation  and  who 
would  not  mind  losing  by  the  contract,  if  he  could  raise  his  credit 
by  its  acceptance. 

Enclose  two  plans  of  the  Negrais  island  showing  the  soundings 
of  the  harbour,  channels,  and  the  Syrian  river  as  far  as  Persaine. 
A  storm  has  destroyed  most  of  the  works  and  houses  already 
built.  Brooke  reports  that  he  is  preparing  to  remove  to  the  north- 
west point,  but  the  Council  considers  the  north-east  point  most 
convenient.  On  receiving  the  present  of  palankins,  the  King  of 
Pegu  and  Uppu  Raja  flatly  refused  to  sign  the  treaty,  and  denied 
the  grant  of  Persaine.  Nothing  but  promises  can  be  expected  from 
that  '  perfideous  court '  unless  they  should  be  reduced  to  conces- 
sions by  failure  in  their  war  with  the  Burmese.  This  is  conducted 
too  slackly  to  come  to  a  speedy  conclusion.  Can  only  wait  an 
opportunity  to  obtain  Persaine  or  some  other  place  on  the  Syrian 
river  without  which  Negrais  would  be  valueless,  but  with  which 
it  would  be  of  great  consequence  as  a  magazine  and  place  of 
refuge.  The  people  of  Arakan,  who  are  Burmese  by  race,  have 
fitted  out  300  boats  to  attack  the  Negrais.  Have  therefore  sent  50 
soldiers  by  the  Arcot  sloop  and  His  Majesty's  sloop,  the  King  Fisher. 
The  King  of  Tavoy  has  not  yet  replied  to  our  proposals.  Have 
made  agreements  with  the  French  and  the  Dutch  for  the  mutual 
surrender  of  deserters.  As  such  an  agreement  was  also  made  with 
the  Danes  two  years  ago,  expect  no  further  desertions  as  there  is 
no  European  power  on  the  Coast  with  whom  they  can  take  service. 
The  Dutch  have  agreed  to  refund  the  I  %  duty,  exacted  from  an 
English  ship  for  landing  her  cargo  at  Malacca  while  she  repaired 
her  leak.  They  assert  that  she  was  fitted  out  for  a  voyage  to  the 
Spanish  Isles,  contrary  to  the  Treaty  of  Munster.  They  probably 
hope  by  this  concession  to  obtain  greater  ones  from  the  English  in 
regard  to  the  Natal  settlement. 
33 


258  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

Have  made  little  progress  in  the  Madras  fortifications,  for  lack 
of  materials  and  work-people.  Have  sanctioned  the  construction 
of  additional  barracks  on  the  site  chosen  by  Colonel  Scott  and 
Brohier  at  a  cost  of  11,921  Pags.  The  repairs  to  the  powder-house  (?) 
on  the  Island  must  be  deferred  till  more  necessary  works  have  been 
completed.  The  Company's  ancient  and  present  Bounds  are  being 
resurveyed.  It  would  be  useful  if  an  accurate  survey  of  the  Arcot 
country  were  taken.  To  accommodate  strangers,  have  purchased  a 
spacious  house  in  Charles  street  for  the  moderate  price  of  6,000 
Pags.  It  is  now  employed  as  Watson's  residence.  Have  called 
for  an  estimate  of  the  several  houses  in  the  pettah  now  rented 
for  an  hospital,  with  a  view  to  their  purchase.  The  fortifications 
at  Fort  St.  David  have  been  hindered  as  the  workmen  have  been 
employed  in  fitting  up  barracks.  The  factory-house  at  Porto  Novo 
collapsed  during  the  recent  rains.  A  peon's  hut  was  ordered  to  be 
erected  on  the  site  to  keep  up  the  Company's  right  to  the  place. 
Though  the  Devikottai  fort  was  much  damaged  by  the  monsoon 
which  was  unusually  heavy  in  those  parts,  have  only  ordered 
absolutely  necessary  repairs  to  be  made.  As  the  Company  is  very 
particular  that  the  farms  should  be  let  for  one  year  by  public 
outcry,  have  done  so  in  the  case  of  expired  farms.  Paddy  fields 
and  Salt-pans  and  the  Company's  Gardens  were  let  only  for  502 
and  196  Pags.  a  year,  respectively,  though  they  fetched  750  and 
250  Pags.  under  the  longer  lease.  In  the  case  of  some  farms 
disposal  by  outcry  may  be  advantageous,  but  in  the  case  of  others 
the  farms  by  going  to  new  hands  will  deteriorate  in  a  few  years  as 
the  farmers  will  care  nothing  but  to  make  as  much  as  possible  in 
12  months.  Advise  that  they  may  be  leased  for  a  longer  period. 
The  Mint  customs  increased  by  1,500  Pags. ;  the  Sea  customs  fell 
by  1,800  Pags.  owing  to  smaller  import  of  grain  ;  and  the  Land 
customs  by  1,400  Pags.  due  to  smaller  export  of  piece-goods  for 
Manilla  and  Pegu.  Fort  St.  David  expenses  fell  by  50,000  Pags. 
owing  to  reduction  of  the  garrison  there  to  5  companies.  The 
pay  of  the  rest  of  the  troops  there  has  been  charged  to  Madras. 
Sea  customs  at  Fort  St.  David  fell  by  5,600  Pags.  owing  to  smaller 
import  cf  grain. 

On  Saunders'  departure,  George  Pigot  assumed  the  chair. 
Cooke  who  was  suspended  proceeds  on  this  ship.  A  second  Com- 
mittee appointed  at  his  request  to  examine  the  rejected  cloth  which 
he  was  asked  to  take,  again  pronounced  the  cloth  to  be  too  bad. 
Boddam  has  not  yet  left  for  Vizagapatam.  On  enquiry  into  the 
charges  brought  against  Paymaster  Boddam  by  Colonel  Scott,  found 


CALENDAR  FOR  1754-I75S  259 

that  both  sides  were  to  be  blamed  for  the  warmth  of  the  contro- 
versy. Boddam  certainly  permitted  some  irregularities  and  has 
been  ordered  to  refund  overcharges  amounting  to  1,246  Pags.  while 
he  was  Paymaster.  Drake  having  recovered  his  health  continues 
as  Upper-Searcher  at  the  Sea-gate.  Henry  Eustace  Johnson  being 
in  ill-health  was  permitted  to  return  to  England  on  this  ship. 
Waldegrave  Pelham  also  proceeds  on  this  ship  as  the  climate  does 
not  suit  him.  John  Whitehill  who  is  appointed  assistant  at  the 
Negrais  sails  on  the  Arcot  snow.  As  writers  are  wanted  at  Sumatra, 
Philip  Francis  Greenslate  was  ordered  thither.  Such  a  transfer  is 
unprecedented,  but  it  has  been  made  in  order  to  break  some  connec- 
tions which  that  gentleman  seemed  inclined  to  contract.  On  the 
conclusion  of  the  Treaty,  Sir  James  Foulis  returned  to  Bombay. 
We  presented  him  with  500  Pags.  for  his  expenses.  Lieutenant 
Stephen  Augustus  de  Monchanin  having  apologised  has  been 
continued  in  the  service. 

Granted  Captain's  commission  to  John  Howes  (February  17) 
Captain-Lieutenant's  commission  to  John  Stephen  Bilhock  (Novem- 
ber 15),  and  Lieutenant's  commissions  to  Robert  Campbell  (Novem- 
ber 15),  Thomas  Newton  (November  16),  and  Richard  Black 
(November  17).  Appointed  Captain  Timothy  Bridge  Town  Major 
(January  20).  Captain  John  Howes^though  of  the  Bengal  establish- 
ment has  been  placed  on  the  Madras  establishment  on  account  of 
his  proved  capacity.  In  these  troublesome  times,  company 
Captains  ought  to  be  men  of  experience,  conduct  and  bravery. 
Captain  Thomas  Greenville  died  on  November  28,  and  Captain 
Thomas  White  on  December  24,  1754.  Lieutenant  Knapton  died 
in  Bengal  in  November  last.  Lieutenant  Thomas  Langford  was 
placed  on  half-pay  from  November  15.  Enclose  a  list  of  invalids 
on  the  Coast  with  their  allowances.  They  might  be  provided  for 
at  home  at  less  expense.  The  Company  stated  that  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  court-martial  was  not  made  by  written  order  but  by  word 
of  mouth  to  the  Judge  Advocate.  Are  informed  that  it  is  not  the 
practice  in  Europe  and  that  no  officer  will  sit  as  President  without 
written  orders. 

Louis  Madeira's  bonds  for  25,000  Pags.  and  Peter  Ballieu's 
bond  for  5,000  Pags.  have  been  discharged.  The  China  Jesuits' 
bond  will  be  paid  off  if  our  cash  permits.  Have  received  20,000 
Pags.  as  deposit  from  Mrs.  Antonia  de  Madeiros  at  the  current 
interest.  This  was  done  at  a  time  when  money  was  needed,  but  as 
peace  has  since  been  made  with  the  French,  it  will  be  repaid  as  soon 


26o  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

as  possible.  John  Smith's  estate  is  to  be  included  in  the  list  of 
estates  written  off  to  account  current  London. 

Sumatra  affairs. 

Have  appointed  John  Walsh  Mayor,  and  Claud  Russell  Sheriff 
and  Coroner.  There  has  been  some  difficulty  in  constituting  the 
Court  of  Requests,  as  its  duties  are  onerous  and  as  the  appointment 
is  merely  honorary.  Suggest  that  refusal  to  serve  in  the  Court  of 
Requests  should  be  punishable  with  fine  as  in  the  case  of  Aldermen. 
Enquire  whether  these  latter  are  ex-officio  exempt  from  serving  on 
the  Court  of  Requests.  His  Majesty's  ships  Salisbury  from  Bombay 
and  the  King  Fisher  from  Bengal  arrived  February  1 5,  and  the 
Bridge-water  from  Bengal  on  February  1 8.  Colonel  Adlercron's 
regiment  is  quartered  at  Fort  St.  David.  Have  been  obliged  to 
pay  nearly  300  Pags.  a  month  for  oil,  pots,  etc.,  used  by  the  regi- 
ment. Adlercron  has  refused  to  pay  for  these  or  even  to  certify 
the  accounts  of  those  already  supplied,  but  agrees  to  certify  future 
accounts.  It  is  impossible  to  avoid  '  disgusts  and  dissatisfied 
minds  in  the  gentlemen  of  His  Majesty's  forces  ',  without  deviating 
in  some  respects  from  the  Company's  orders. 

Supplement:  To  maintain  the  Governor's  dignity,  a  service  of 
plate  is  necessary,  as  the  old  one  was  carried  away  by  the  French. 
Cooke  has  given  security  for  the  balance  due  from  him.  The 
reported  attack  on  the  Negrais  from  Arakan  proving  untrue,  shall 
send  thither  only  the  Arcot  snow.  Broadcloth  was  again  put  up  to 
outcry  2  days  ago  but  with  no  better  result.  Mr.  Dampier  (a 
Frenchman  from  Pondichery)  and  his  wife  takes  passage  on  this 
ship.  On  the  news  of  Hindley's  death,  appointed  Pybus  as 
Deputy  Governor  of  Fort  Marlborough.  Have  laded  on  the  Win- 
chelsea  841  bales  valued  at  85,240  Pags.  Diamonds,  etc.,  registered 
amount  to  119,851  Pags.  Have  in  Cash,  13,805  current  Pags.  and 
785  Madras  Pags.;  and  in  the  Treasury,  1,96,269  Arcot  Rs.,  3,235 
Madras  Rs.,  153,862  current  Pags.,  and  617  Madras  Pags.,  besides 
40H  chests  of  silver. 

Postscript :  Have  drawn  bills  for  89  Pags. 

Appended  are : — (i)  register  of  diamonds,  etc.,  (2)  list  of  the 
packets,  and  (3)  sailing  orders  to  Captain  Christopher  Baron  of  the 
Winchelsea. 


APPENDICES 


262  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 

APPENDIX 
Abstract  of  the  lists  of  the  Piece-goods  investment  to  be  sent  home  by 


1 744-1 745- 


i 746-1747. 


Allejars — 
Bright  red 

Beteellas — 
Ordinary 
Oringal    ...         ... 

Pulicat    ... 
Cambrick  ... 

Chintz  (moorees) — 
Ordinary 
Fine        

Callawapores 

Dimities,  Fort  St.  DaTid 

Ginghams — 
Small  white 
Blue  striped 
Red  striped 
Clouded 
Chequered 
Superfine-coloured 

Izarees— 

Fine        ...         «* 

Superfine 

Lampasses   ... 

Longcloth— • 

Ordinary  ... 

Middling 

Fine        

Superfine 

Blue         

Moorees— 

Ordinary  ... 

Fine         w 
Superfine 

Romals — 

Sootie      ...         ... 

Red  and  white  .„ 

Pulicat     

Masulipatam 

Sastracundies,  Bright 

Salempores — 
Ordinary 
Middling 
Fine 

Sarrasses     ,M 

Sicashes — fine 

Succatums— fine    ... 


Pieces. 
400 


2,000 

1,000 

700 


5,000 

I 

600  | 

300 


800 
200 
400 

300 


400 
200 


100,000 

20,000 

8,000 

60O 

5,000 


3.000 

3,000 

500 


8,000 
1,000 

600 

2,000 

600 


60,000 

20,000 

8,000 


Pieces. 
5oo 


2,000 
1,500 
1,100 


2,500 

1,000 
400 


800 
500 
500 
200 
800 


1 747-1748. 


1 748-1 749. 


500 
400 

1  bale 


100,000 

20,000 

8,000 

600 

5,000 


3,000 

3,000 

500 


8,000 

1,000 

200 

2,000 
1,000 

6o,000 
12,000 

7,000 


I  bale 


Pieces. 
500 


2,000 
1,500 
1,400 


3,000 
1,000 


800 
500 
500 

800 


500 
400 

1  bale 


150,000 

25,000 

12,000 

400 

6,000 


3,000 

2,500 

300 


8,000 

I.OOO 

200 

2,OOo 

2,000 


100,000 
40,000 

10,000 


I  bale 


Pieces. 
500 


2,000 
1,500 
1,400 


3,000 
1,000 


800 
500 
500 

800 


500 
400 

I  bale 


150,000 

25,000 

12,000 

400 

6,000 


3,000 

2,500 

300 


8,000 

1,000 

200 

2,000 

2,000 


100,000 
40,000 
10,000 


1  bale 


CALENDAR  FOR  1744-1755 
I. 

the  shipping  returning  in  the  seasons  1744-1745  to  1754-1755. 


263 


1749-1750-       1750-1751-     1751-1752- 

. 


1752-1753- 


J753-I754-   1754-1755- 


Pieces. 
500 


2,000 
1,500 
1,500 


3,000 
1,000 


800 
500 
500 

800 


500 
400 

1  bale 


150,000 

25,000 

12,000 

400 

6,000 


3,000 

7,500 

300 


8,000 

1,000 

100 

2,000 

2,000 


100,000 
40,000 
10,000 


1  bale 


Pieces. 
500 


2,000 
1,500 
I.500 


2,000 
1,000 


1,000 
500 
500 

"*8oo 


700 
300 

I  bale 


150,000 

40,000 

12,00c 

600 

6,000 


3,000 

2,500 

600 


10,000 
1,000 

2,000 

2,000 


100,000 

40,000 
10,000 


l  bale 


Pieces. 
500 


2,000 

1,500 

1,400 

500 


2,000 
1,500 

1,000 


1,000 
700 
500 

500 


500 
400 

400 


150,000 

40,000 

12,000 

600 

6,000 


3,oco 

2,500 

600 


10,000 
2,000 

2.C0O 


100,000 

40,000 
10,000 


1  bale 
200 


Pieces. 
500 


2,000 
1,500 
1,600 
1,000 


2,000 
1,500 

1,000 

200 


1,000 
700 
500 

200 


500 
500 

400 


150,000 

50,000 

15,000 

800 

6,000 


3,000 

2,500 

800 


10,000 

2,000 
2,000 


100,000 
40,000 
12,000 


I   bale 

200 


Pieces. 
500 


2,000 
1,500 
1,500 
1,000 


2,000 
1,500 

1,000 


600 
800 
400 

200 


500 
500 

400 


80,000 

35.00O 

10,000 

800 

5,000 


3,000 

2,000 

800 


10,000 

2,0C0 
2,000 


60,000 

35.000 
8,000 


I  bale 
200 


Pieces. 
500 


2,000 
1,500 
1,700 


2,000 
1,000 


1,000 


1,000 
400 


500 
500 

400 


60,000 

20,000 

10.000 

800 

4,000 


4,000 

2,000 

800 


3,°oo 
(b)ue) 7,000 

2,000 

2,000 


50,000 

30,000 

8,000 


1   bale 
200 


264  THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 


APPENDIX  II. 

Abstract  of  the  manifests  of  private  silver  licensed  for  Madras, 
by  the  shipping  1745-1746  to  1 75 3-1754- 


oz. 

I 745- I 746 

5,375 

1746-4747 

4,405 

I 747-1748 

937 

1748-1749 

17,579 

1 749-17 50 

69,132 

I7SO-I751 

24,061 

I7$i-i7$* 

23.035  &  77  oz.  of  gold. 

I7S2-I753 

5,76i 

1753-1754 

60,298  &  1,286  oz.  of  gold. 

CALENDAR  FOR  1745-1754 

APPENDIX  III. 

Lists  of  persons  permitted  to  proceed  to  India  by  the  shippings 
0/1745-1746*01753-1754. 


265 


Dates 

Names 

Capacity 

Where  going 

By  what  ship 

1 745- 1 746. 

July  10, 

1  Bernard  Abraham. 

Solomon's      serv-  | Fort  St.  George. 

Mont  fort. 

1746. 

1 

ant. 

(Besides  5  other 

persons  for  Anjengo  and  Bengal.) 
175I-I752- 

January  8, 

William  Anderson. 

Major  Lawrence's 

Fort  St.  David. 

Dttrrington. 

1752- 

servant. 

Elizabeth  Ball 

William  Cockell's 
servant. 

Do. 

Do. 

Charles  Powell 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Florentia  Craddock. 

Passenger 

Fort  St. George. 

Oxford. 

Elizabeth  Edwards. 

Do. 

Do. 

Bombay  Castle. 

James  Sutherland. 

Mariner 

Do. 

Do. 

Margaret  Maskelyne 

Passenger        (the 
future  wife      of 
Robert  Clive). 

Do. 

Godolphin. 

John  Irwin 

Mariner 

Do. 

Edgecote. 

Philadelphia  Austen. 

Passenger 

Fort  St.  David. 

Bombay  Cattle. 

Mary  Elliott 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Eleanor  Cope 

Do. 

Fort  St. George. 

DurrisgfOM. 

Elizabeth  Cockell  ... 

Do. 

Fort  St.  David. 

Do. 

William         Cockell 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

(child). 

James  Repington  ... 

Volunteer 

Do. 

Do. 

Andrew  Ross 

Free  Merchant   ... 

Fort  St.  George 

Colchester. 

Mary  Colefax 

Passenger 

Do. 

Godolphitt. 

Maty  Smith 

Do. 

Do 

Chesterfitld. 

(Bes 

ides  8  others  for  Bomb 

ay,  Bengal,  Bencoolen  and  Fort  Marl 
I752-I753- 

)orough.) 

January  25, 

Benjamin  de  Visme. 

Mariner 

Fort  St. George. 

Portfield. 

•753- 

Frances  Rous 

Passenger 

Do. 

Elizabeth. 

Lucy  Muriell 

Do. 

Do. 

Falmouth. 

Jane  Morse 

Do. 

Do. 

Elizabeth. 

Frances  Morse 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Emelia  Morse 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Mary  Butler 

Passenger      (Mor- 
se's servant). 

Do. 

Do. 

Edmund  Massey    ... 

Free  Merchant  ... 

Do. 

Do. 

Francis   Muriell 

Lo. 

Do. 

Falmouth. 

John  Edwards 

Do. 

Do. 

Egmont. 

Nicholas  Morse     ... 

Do. 

Do. 

Elizabeth. 

(Besides  24 

others  for  Bombay  and  Bengal.) 
1753-1754. 

February 

James  Lyon 

Mariner 

Fort  St. George. 

Anson. 

'5.1754- 

Amelia  Hopkins    ... 

Passenger 

Do. 

Ilchester. 

Rachel  Beaver 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Ann  Jane  Beaver  ... 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

John    Thomas    Bea- 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Francis  Barnewall. 

Free  Merchant   ... 

Do. 

Norfolk. 

William  Belsches. 

Do. 

Do. 

Abroad. 

John     Worthington 

Do. 

Do. 

York. 

Turner. 

Peter  Mariette 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

March  15, 

John  Hussey 

Orme's   servant  ... 

Do. 

Warren. 

1754 

(Besides  30  others  1 

'or  Bengal,  Bombay  and  Bencoolen.) 

34 


266 


THE  MADRAS  DESPATCHES 


APPENDIX  IV. 

Abstract  of  the  lists  of  recruits,  etc.,  sent  out  to  the  Coast  by  the 
shippings  of  1745-1746  to  I753"I754- 


Date 


Ship 


Num- 
ber   I 


Remarks 


April  30,  1746 

July  9,  1746 
November  14,  1 746 


January  31,  1747 
January  3 I, 1747 
January  28,  1 747 
February  18,  1747 

February  18,  1747 
February  18,  1747 


February  12,  1748 

January  20,  1748 
January  13,  1748 
July  24,  1748 


December  3,  1750 
December,  15,  1750 
December  3,  1750 


August  21,  1 75 1 

December  9,  1751 
December  9,  1 751 
December  9,  1751 
November  26,  1751 


Britannia 
Bombay  Castle 
Lapwing 


1 745-1746 
.  I     II 

23 

3° 

64 


Eastcourt 
Caesar 
Oxford 
Colchester 

Benjamin 
IVinchelsea 


1746-1747. 

29 

23 

35 

16 


10 
21 


134 


Ensign  James  Cope  (age  25). 
Ensign  William  Keene  (age  36). 
Ensign  Lawrence  Donaldson  (age  31). 
Major  Stringer  Lawrence  (age  44  ?). 
Ensign  Edmund  Pascall  (age  25). 
Ensign  John  Brooke  (age  24). 


1747-1748. 


Lapwing 


Duke  of  Dorset 
Scarborough  ... 
Porto  Bello     ... 


28 

28 
30 
14 


Alexander    Delavaux,  Chief  Engineer 
and  Captain  of  the  Artillery  (age  40). 
John  Jacob,  Sergeant  (age  33). 


Essex 
Triton 

Warwick 


Dumngton 


i7S°-l7Si- 

41 

57 

_65_ 

163 


1751-1752. 

I       60  I  Stringer 


Commander-in- 


I  Prince  of  Wales.  !       58 


Drake 


Edgecote 


Oxford 


5? 


." 


69 


291 


Lawrence, 

Chief  (age  48). 
William  Kinneer,  Major  (age  43). 
George  Pattison,  Ensign  (age  32). 
John  Henry  Schaub,  Captain  (age  30;. 
John  Francis  De  Beck,  2nd  Lieutenant 

(age  28). 
John  Chabbert,  Captain  (age  31). 
Rodolph  Wagner,  2nd  Lieutenant  (age 

32)- 

George  Frederick  Gaupp,  1st  Lieute- 
nant (age  30). 

John  Louis  Prevost,  Ensign  (age  32). 

Frederick  Gurtler,  First  Lieutenant 
(age  26). 

John  Conrad  Heidegger,   Ensign  (age 

33)- 


CALENDAR  FOR  1745-1754 
Abstract  of  the  lists  of  recruits,  etc. — cont. 


267 


Date 


Remarks 


December  21,  1752 
December  16,  1752 
December  16,  1752 
December  18,  1752 

December  16,  1752 
December  18,  1752 

December  16,  1752 
January  23,  1753 
January  23,  1753 


November  28,  1753 
December  19,  1753 
December  19,  1753 
December  20,  1753 


December  19,  1753 
December  20,  1753 


January  14,  1754 
February  15,  1754 
March  16,  1754 


Harcourt 
Boscaweu 
Clint  o)i 
Edgebaslo* 

Suffolk 
Marlborough 

Winchelsea 

Portfiela 

Montfort 


25  | 
55 
32 
52 


51 

46 

54 
-9 

7i 


William  Lin,  Captain  (age  32). 
John  Kidge,  Captain  (  —  ). 
John  Caillaud,  Captain  (     —     ) 


Donald  Campbell,  Ensign  (age  28). 

John  Frazer,  Ensign  (age  29). 

Jean  George  Schwartz,  Cadet  (age  3c). 

Lewis  D'lllens,  Captain  (age  30). 
George   Hilffer,   2nd   Lieutenant    (age 

42). 
Jean    Francois    Paschaud,    Lieutenant 

(age  26). 
Jean  Jaques  Vouga,  Cadet  (age  201. 
Francois  Flaction,  Cadet  (age  22). 
David  Wird,  Cadet  (age  24). 
Jean  Henri  Sollikoffer  (age  ,  21  J). 
Jean  Carl  Erdman  (age  [21]). 
Francis  Lewis  Tribolet  (age  33). 
Francis  Lauzunn  (age  [18]) 
Nicholas  Bonjour  (age  [18]). 


415 


St.  Geor^ 
Triton 
Onslow 
Essex   ... 


True  Briton 
llchesler 


1753-1754- 
62  ! 


Norfolk 
Anson  .. 
Warren 


34 
48 

34 


3i 


4' 


39 
35 
65 


389 


Alexander  Callender,  Captain  (age  36). 
Thomas  White,  Captain  (age  38). 
Thomas  Newton,  Lieutenant  (age  35). 
William    Jennings,    Lieutenant  of  the 

Artillery  (age  34). 
John  Henry  Meyers,  Ensign  (age  26). 
Joseph  Darke,  Ensign  (age  25). 
George  Beaver,  Captain  (age  33). 
John  Tabby,  Lieutenant  (age  44). 
Robert     Campbell,    Lieutenant    i.age 

33)- 
John  Nollekens,  Cadet  (age  19). 
William     James    Tabby,      Cadet  (age 

14). 
Jean  Jacques  Iselin,  Cadet  (age  19).  ') 
Jean  Jaques  Raillard,  Cadet  (age  30). 
John  Tabry,  Cadet  (age  31). 
Andrew  Crotcy,  Cadet  (age  20). 
Stephen  Smith,  Cadet  (age  31). 


I  N  D£  X 


Abbott,  James,  186. 

Abd-ul  Wahab  Khan,  254. 

Abraham,  Bernard,  265. 

Accountant-General.  See  Mayor's  Court 
at  Madras. 

Achilles,  33,  38,  147. 

Achin,  5,  12,  27,  36,  92,  205. 

Acqua  fortis,  II,  24,  31,  168. 

Acton,  Capt.  John,  128. 

Adiyappa  Narayanan,  8. 

Adlercron,  Colonel.  To  be  politely  trea- 
ted, 230  ;  allowances  to  — ,  230  ;  salute's 
to  — ,  231  ;  C.-in-C.  of  H.M.'s  land 
forces  in  India,  231  ;  authorized  to  hold 
courts  martial,  232  ;  his  regiment,  229, 
234  ;  honours  due  to  — ,  246  ;  claims  the 
command  of  Company's  Coast  army, 
250,  251  ;  agrees  not  to  interfere  with 
Company's  settlements,  251  ;  disputes 
with — ,  253  ;  his  annoying  behaviour, 
260. 

Admiral  Vernon,  2,  23,  28,  29,  3S,  59, 
162,  171,   181,   185,  186. 

Adriatic  [Sea],   128. 

Advances,  61,  65,    127,  230,   233. 

Advice,   34. 

Ahmad  Khan,  210. 

Airey,  George.     Ensign,  244. 

Aix-la-Chapelle.     Treaty,  130. 

Aken,  27. 

Alambarai.     Granted  to  d'Auteuil,  81. 

Alderman.     See  Mayor's  Court  at  Madras. 

Aldersey,  William      Writer,  216,  220. 

Aleppo,  23. 

Alexander,  James.  Factor,  164  ;  appoint- 
ed to  Court  of  Requests,  208  ;  Sheriff, 
217  ;  sub-accountant,  244. 

Alford,  Lieut.,  205. 

Alfred,  Thomas.      Lieut,  of  Artillery,  196. 

Allejars.     See  Piece-goods. 

Allam  Khan,  166. 

Ambalattadi  Chetti,  164. 

Ammunition  returns,  16. 

Anchors,  47. 

Anderson,  William,  265. 

Andiyappa,  18,  48. 

Andrews,  John.  Writer,  n  ;  to  Ganjam, 
8,  11  ;  extorted,  104;  plundered,  115, 
122;  to  quit  Ganjam,  136;  to  Mada- 
pollam,  136  ;  to  Bandarmalanka,  148. 
Ref.  145,  150. 

Andrews,  Capt.  Thomas  (of  Bombay),  122, 
163. 

Anglesea,  47. 

Angria,  23,  92,  109,  233. 

Anjengo,  47,  84,  188. 


Anson.  Defeats  French  fleet,  51.  Kef. 
230. 

Anson, "46^98,   223,   228,   240,   265,  267. 

Antonio  de  la  Purification,  Padre.  Given 
St.  Thome  by  Chunda  Sahib,  81  ;  ob- 
structed/provisions  to  Madras  through 
St.  Thome,  81  ;  imprisoned,  82,  117. 
Ref.  85,  95. 

Anwar-ud-din.     See  Arcot,  Nawabs  of — . 

Apollo,  47,  59,  60,  70. 

Appeals.     See  Mayor's  Court  at  Madras. 

Apscher,  J.  B.  de.     Ensign,  206. 

Arabs.     From  Bombay,  40. 

Arakan,  19,  257,  260. 

Arcot,  98,   181,  187,  257,  259. 

Arcot.  10,  18,  49,  140,  144,  146,  14S, 
166,   172,   179,  211,  247.  248,  254,  258. 

Arcot.     Nawabs  of — 

Dost   Ali  Khan.      His  family  at    Madras, 

15.  26>  32- 

[Muhammad  Saiyid  Khan].  His  grants 
2,  32  ;  applies   for   a  loan  of  2  lakhs, 

7- 

Anwar-ud-din  Khan.  Appointment,  9  ; 
presents  to  — ,  9,  36,  37,  39,  65  ;  joins 
Nawabs  of  Cuddapah  and  Kurnool,  9  ; 
returns  to  Arcot,  17  ;  forbids  hostiL 
ities  on  land,  18  ;  visits  St.  Thome, 
Pondichery,  Fort  St.  David  and 
Udaiyarpalaiyam,  19 ;  forbids  the 
coining  of  Arcot  rupees,  24  ;  ordered 
to  oppose  the  Marathas,  25  ;  calls  in 
Mahfuz  Khan,  25;  disallows  Dutch 
fortification  at  Porto  Novo,  27  ; 
allows  the  French    to  attack    Madras, 

34  ;  well  disposed  to  the  English, 
35;     sends    2,000    horse   to    F.S.D., 

35  ;  treats  with  the  French,  36  ; 
influenced  by  their  money,  39  ;  deserts 
the  English,  37,  56  ;  mediator,  49,  51 ; 
visits  Porto  Novo,  65  ;  death.  80,  81 . 

Muhammad  Ali  Khan.  At  Trichino- 
poly,  85  ;  English  help  to  — ,  85,  93, 
94,  119.  130,  177;  to  Gingee,  114; 
appointed  Nawab,  114;  support  of 
his  title,  117,  119,  146,  178  ;  his  grants 
to  the  English,  86,  94,  114,  115,  119; 
bears  war  expenses,  121,  139,  167  ; 
advised  to  push  his  interest  at  Delhi, 
125  ;  Moghal's  farman  to  — ,  139  ;  his 
fears  and  lack  of  money,  140,  142,  I44; 
proposal  to  give  Trichinopoly  alone 
to  — ,  146  ;  joined  by  the  Marathas 
and  Mysore,  148  ;  summons  Chunda 
Sahib  to  surrender,  166  ;  remits  rent 
for  Madras,  175;  at  Tiruvadi,  180  ; 
recovery  of  advances  from — ,  189; 
slow    in     provisioning    Trichinopoly, 


270 


INDEX 


Arcot.  Nawabs  oi—cont. 

Muhammad  Ali  Khan—  cont. 

211  ;  cannot  collect  revenues,  211  ; 
his  debt,  211  ;  refuses  to  surrender 
Tiichinopoly,  212  ;  pressed  to  make 
peace  with  Country  powers,  212; 
his  army  inefficient,  212  ;  to  cede  the 
French  equal  extent  of  territories, 
214  ;  to  allow  free  commerce  to  both 
nations,  214;  his  army  wintered 
in  Tanjore,  214  ;  under  cover  of 
F.S.D.,  219;  quarrels  with  the 
Mysore  King,  222,  224,  226  ;  to  accede 
to  the  provisional  treaty,  234,  238 ; 
not  recognized,  236  ;  mortgages 
Poonamallee,  Seven  Maganams, 
etc.,  243  ;  pacifies  Morari  Rao,  248 ; 
distressed  for  "money,  249  ;  to  reside 
at  Arcot,  253  ;  Company's  army- 
protects  his  revenues,  254. 

Arcot.     Poligars  of  — ,  254. 

Ardley,  Samuel,  164,  169,  205,  244. 

Ariyankuppam,  60. 

Armenians,    69,    141,  153,    156,  165,     168, 
193. 

Arms.     Muskets,     6,     145,      193  ;     —     for 
Bengal,  202. 

Ami,  139,  148. 

Arrack.     From  Batavia,  60,  70,  112. 

Articles  of  War,  232. 

Artillery  Regulations,  116      See   Military. 

Assaying,  52,  56,  77. 

Assay-master,  75;  reports,  221,  222,  24I. 

Assay -utensils,   215. 

Assessment  in  Madras.     See  Taxes. 

Augusta,  79,  92,  93,  192. 

Aurangabad,     139,     145,     150.     171,    177, 
179,   180,   218. 

Austen,  Philadelphia,  265. 

Auteuil,  d',  81,  172. 


B 


Baftas.     See  Piece-goods. 

Bagshaw,  Lieut. -Col.,  251,  253. 

Bahar  (a  weight),  21 

Bahur.  Battle  at  —  ,  178  ;  the  fort  to  be 
pulled  down,  235 ;  to  be  given  to  the 
Moors,  235. 

Baillieu,  169,  216. 

Baird,  Alexander.  Writer,  3  ;  Resident 
at  Pulicat,  50  ;  Assistant  at  Ingeiam,  87, 
151  ;  to  Vizagapatam,  151  :  resigns,  216. 

Baker.     Death,  116. 

Balaji  Rao.  To  Aurangabad,  210  ;  makes 
peace  with  Salabat  Jang,  210  ;  to  Car- 
natic,  210,  211,  248  ;  to  Mysore,  210 ;  his 
gain,  210  ;  offers  20,000  horse  to  the 
Nawab,  214;  likely  to  oppose  Salabat 
Jang,  218. 

Balasore,  8,  9,  37,  47,  69. 

Bale  screws,  22 r. 

Ball,  Elizabeth,   265. 

Ballieu  [Boileau],  Peter,  196,  259. 

Bandarmalanka,  148,  150,  203. 

Bandipalaiyam,  19,  66. 


Banks,  Samuel.  To  Madapollam,  11  ;  at 
Vizagapatam,  62,  137,  143  ;  death,  244. 

Bannatyne,  Robert.     Ensign,  226. 

Barker,  John.  Factor,  107;  Assistant 
Engineer,  107  ;  death,  137. 

Barker,  Lieut.,  205. 

Barlow,  Samuel.      Free  merchant,  11. 

Barnett,  Commodore,  5,  17,  18,  20,  21,  27, 
28,  29,  33.  67,  68,  106,  no,  165. 

Barnewall,  Francis  Coyle  de.  Arrested, 
82.  97  ;  confiscated,  97 :  sails  for 
Europe,  92.     Ref.  155,  265. 

Baron,  Christopher.     Capt.,  260. 

Barrowcliffe,  Robert.     Smith,  108. 

Bartholomew.    Second  at  Pondichery,  254. 

Basilisk,  59,  79. 

Basle,  Daniel  Frischman  de.     Ensign,  245. 

Basra,  24,  47,  79. 

Batavia,  5,  6,  17,  19,  21,  42,  47,  70,  98, 
112,  137,  138,  143,  145,  187,  202. 

Batavia  sugar,  202. 

Batta.     See  Military. 

Bausset,  du.     At  Sadras,  214. 

Bay,  Trie,  9. 

Beaufort,  5,  11. 

Beaver,  Ann  Jane,  265. 

Beaver,  Capt.  George,  222,  244,  267. 

Beaver,  John  Thomas,  265. 

Beaver,  Rachel,  265. 

Beawes,  48. 

Beck.  Tohn  Francis     d'.  Lieut.,  169,  266. 

Bell,  Capt.,  153. 

Belsches,  William.  Surgeon,  32,  41,  61, 
66,  73,  96,  106,  116,  117,  132,  137  ;  free 
merchant,  265. 

Bencoolen,  265. 

Bengal.  Detachment  from  —  35,  152  ; 
investment,  6,  78,  201  ;  recruits,  etc.,  for 
— ,  73-  l33  '36.  196,  205,  222  ;  remit- 
tances to  —  ,  18,  44,  45,  52,  55,  64,  70, 
75.  77,  79,  8°.  9'.  99.  101,  103,  108, 
109,  in,  112,  118,  120,  126,  127,  129, 
135,  143,  145,  149,  153.  154,  i&i.  168, 
192,  221  ;  —  shipping,  r,  29,  30,  143, 
192,201,  223,  253.  Ref.  5,  7,  13,  17,  47, 
73.     See  Military. 

Benjamin,  5,  7,  21,  22,  44,  47,  59,  61,  63. 
65,  69,  102,  109,  266. 

Benjar,  12,  56,  71,  101. 

Benyon,  Richard,  2,  9,  13,  32,  42,  43,  1 96. 

Berhampur.     Investment,  8. 

Bernard,  Father,  130. 

Best,  Marmaduke.  Writer,  127  ;  arrives, 
136  ;  at  Vizagapatam,  244. 

Beteellas.     See  Piece-goods. 

Bilhock,  Lieut.,  1S3  ;  ill,  242  ;  Capt.- 
Lieut.,  259. 

Bills  of  complaint,  199. 

Bills  of  lading.     See  Shipping. 

Bills  and  certificates,  3,  4,  13,  14,  18,  20, 
22,  24,  28,  29,  30,  38,  41 ,  42,  46,  54,  61, 
68,  69,  74,  80,  91,  99,  100,  105.,  124,125, 
144,  147,  I52.  153,  165,  171,  176,  183, 
186,  187,  208,  214,  218,  241,  247,  260. 

Bimlipatam,  28. 

Births,  etc.,  returns,  56,  225. 


INDEX 


271 


Bishop,      William.       Superintendent      of 
Powder-works,    221,    242;     Lieut.,  222, 
244  ;  death,  247. 
Black,  Richard.     Ensign,  206  ;  Lieut.,  259. 
Blackerby,  199. 
Blake,  David.      Ensign,  226. 
Bleaching  at  Madras,  89. 
'  Bocunjee  ',  136. 

Boddam,  Charles.     Councillor,    108,     122, 
228;  to  examine   F.S.D,  accounts,  123  ; 
Export    Warehouse-keeper,    etc.,      151  ; 
Chief    of  Vizagapatam,    244  ;    irregula- 
rities, 258,  259. 
Bohea  tea.     See  Tea. 
Boileau  ,  Ballieul,  Peter,  196,  259. 
Bombay.     Fortifications,  106;  garrison   at 
—  )  73  ;  gunpowder  from  —  ,  103,  120, 
I49  ;    ship-building   at     —  ,  17,  83,  201. 
Ref.  4.   5,  n,    12,  35,  47,  109,  117,  233, 
253.     See  Military. 
Bombay  Castle,  30,  41,  45,  46,  47,  49,  51, 
59,  60,  69,  103,    162,  185,  186,   223,  240, 
265,  266- 
Bonds,  32,  68,  170,  226. 
Bonham,  Capt.  Pinson,  246,  253. 
Bonjour,  Nicholas,  267. 
Books,  76,  186,  221,  241. 
Booty,  35. 
Borneo,  112. 

Boscawen,  Rear-Admiral .  In  charge  of  the 
English  squadron,  54;  in  charge  of  the 
Company's  forces,  55  ;  treasure  for  — • , 
74  j- takes  charge  of  Madras,  79,  80 ; 
imprison*  Padre  Antonio,  82  ;  his  com- 
plaints against  Dupleix,  82 ;  sails  for 
Europe,  90.  Ref.  59,  60,  61,  62,  63,  64, 
65,  67,  69,  75,  8r,  85,  87,  8S,  96,  97,  98, 
102,  105,  110,  127,  130. 
Boscawen,  267. 
Boulton,  Henry  Crabb   (a   Director),  229. 

234, '240. 
Bound,  James.     Mariner,  206. 
Bounds.     Survey  of   --  ,  258. 
Bounty.     See  Military. Recruiting,  etc. 
Bourbon,  12. 

Bourchier,  Charles.  Secretary,  50 ;  resigns 
Secretary-ship,  205,  216;  Councillor, 
Military  Storekeeper,  etc.,  176,205,  228, 
244. 

Bourchier,  [ ],  177. 

Bourchier,  James.     Writer,  81,  87,  131,  136. 
Bourchier,  Richard.     Appointed  to    Court 

of  Requests,  208. 
Boyde,  William.     Ensign,  67. 
Braddyll,  Dodding,  29. 
Braddyll,  Thomas,  43. 
Breithaupt,  16. 
Brickenden,    Richard.     Writer,    127,    164, 

169. 
Bricklayers,  61. 
Bricks,  204. 
Bridge,     Capt.     Timothy.      Adjutant       at 

Madras,  244  ;  Town-Major,  259. 
Bridge-water,  229,  246,  250,  254,  260. 
Brilliant,  34,  38,  47,  64,  88,  98,  III,  112, 

180,  181,  223,  240. 
Bristol,  229,  233, 


Britannia,  31,  36,  37,  38,    54,  75,  79,  120 
I23.   '43.   *44.    145.   147.  202,  22S,  229, 
231,  234,  240, 241,  254,  255,  266. 
British  manufacturers.     Encouragement  o' 

—  ,  192. 
Broadbeni,  James.  Writer,  220. 
Brohier,  John.  Mariner,  108;  Lieut,  of 
the  train,  116;  engaged,  134;  in  charge 
of  the  works,  I42  ;  Lieut,  of  Artillery, 
142  ;  reports  on  fortifications,  143  ;  allow- 
ance  to  — ,  143,  170,  194,  204  ;  Call  and 
O'Hara  assist  — ,  143  ;  sends  several 
plans,  147  ;  surveys  Vizagapatam,  168  ; 
surveys  Madras  works,  168  ;  Assistant 
Engineer,  190  ;  to  command  an  Artillery 
Company,  190,  191,  205  ;  plans  for  the 
defence  of  Fort  St.  George,  194  ;  to 
succeed  Scott,  194.  Ref.  149,  152,  175, 
182,  193,  197,  204,  208,  221,  224,  242, 
258. 

Brooke,  Henry.  Writer,  131  ;  at  the 
Negrais,  213,  224,  257. 

Brooke,  John      Ensign,  44,  266  ;  dtath,  67 

Brown,  Lieut.  Thomas.     Death,  245. 

Browne,  Lieut.      Killed,  62. 

Browne,  Capt.,  185,  186. 

Browning,  John.  Factor,  164,  169  ;  alder, 
man,  208,  217  ;  Register  of  sea-gate, 
244. 

Bruce,  Capt.  Made  prisoner,  60  ;  released, 
63 

Bugles,  30,  I27. 

Bulkley  Bulkeley  J,  Philip.  lactor,  14, 
26;  Ensign,  49,  52,  95;  Adjutant,  116: 
shot,  151. 

Bullocks,  for  H.M.'s  train,  254. 

Burma,  209,  242,  253,  257. 

Burman,  Lieut.  Edward,  64,  88. 

Burrow,  Christopher.  On  Secret  Com- 
mittee, 220  ;  on  the  conference,  230. 

Burton,  Augustus.  Free  merchant,  133  ; 
his  expenses  at  F.S.D.,  175,  224.     Ref. 

2,3- 
Bushire.     Shipping  to  — ,  2. 
Bussy.     To  Rajahmundry,  248  ;  farms  it  to 

Vijayaram       Raz,       248;     accompanies 

Salabat    Jang  to    the    south,   255.     Ref. 

211.       -^«» 
Butcher's  shop  in  Cuddalore,  104. 
Butler,  Mary,  265. 
Byers,  Capt.     Death,  64. 


Cadets,  251. 

Caesar,  266. 

Caillaud,  Capt.  John,  190,  247,  267. 

'  Calacheputra  ',  218. 

Calais,  3. 

Calcraft,  John,  74. 

Calcutta,  15,  106,  107,  187. 

Calendar.     Act  reforming  the  — ,  158. 

Calicoes.     See  Piece-goods. 

Call,  John.  Promising  engineer,  142  ; 
allowance  to  — ,  143  ;  under  Brohier, 
143  ;  Assistant  Engineer  at  F.S.D.,  205. 

Calland,  John.  Writer,  131,  136;  Resi- 
dent at  Ingeram,  182. 

Callawapores.     See  Piece-goods. 


272 


I  NDEX 


Callender,  Capt.  Alexander,  322,  244, 
267. 

Calvineer,  James,  27. 

Cambays.     See  Piece-goods. 

Cambric.     See  Piece-goods. 

Campbell,  Lieut.  Charles,  121,  151,  206. 

Campbell,  Daniel.  Ensign,  190 ;  Lieut., 
244. 

Campbell,  Capt.  Donald.  Resigned,  245. 
Kef.  148,  267. 

Campbell,  Ensign  Peter.     Resigned,  116. 

Campbell,  Lieut.  Robert,  222,  259,  267. 

Camphor,  124. 

Cannon,  2,  222. 

Canton,  I,  13,  42,  55.      See  China. 

Cape,  1,  166. 

Cape  Verde,  128. 

Capuchins,  99,   1 01. 

Cardamons,  84,  210. 

Carnatic,  29,  218,  233,  237,  238,  255. 

Carpenters,  156. 

Carrington,  Nathaniel.  Assistant  Engi- 
neer, 107  ;  death,  116,   134. 

Carter,  Capt.,  186,   187. 

Cartridge  box,  145. 

Carvalho,  169. 

Casamaijor,  Mrs.,  208. 

Casey,  John.     Writer,  131. 

Cash.     Custody  of—,  56,  155,  158. 

Cassell,  Tohn.      Serjeant  and  Bombardier, 

165 

Castes,  in  Black  Town,  194. 

Castro,  Samuel    de.      Diamond   and    coral 

merchant,  77. 
Cauveri,  The,  248. 
Cavalry.     See  Military. 
Cay,  199. 
Census,  56. 
Centaur,  171. 

Cessation  of  arms,  63,  71,  226,  233,  234. 
Ceylon,  15,  20. 
Chabbert,  Capt.    John,  160,  161,  169,  170, 

175,  176.  182,  185,  196,  266. 
Chace,     Capt.    James.     At  Tiruviti,    211  ; 

repulsed  the  French,  211  ;  lost    a   party, 

211  ,  death,  206. 
Chaise,  225. 

Chandler,  Samuel.     Surgeon,  224. 
Charity  school  at  Madras,  72,  207. 
Charles,  29. 
Charles  Point,  19. 
Charles  Street,  258. 
Charmant,  12. 
Charter,  171,  198,208,  217. 
Chauncy,  Richard.   On  Secret    Committee, 

44,  220,  230 
Chauth.     Explained,  210. 
Chay  goods,  84,  93. 
Cheeseborough,       Joshua.     Ensign,      49  ; 

cornet,   52. 
Chester,  59,  90. 
Chesterfield,  59,   79,  80,  83,  93,    162,  165, 

181,  185,  186,  187,265. 
Chetpattu,  139,  148,  178, 
Cheyne,  Capt.  Francis,  162. 
Chicacole,  214,  219. 
Chicacole  choultry,  243, 
Chidambaram,  114,  21 1,  248. 


China.  Gold,  192  ;  investment  in  —  •  57, 
71,  102,  129,  167  ;  sandalwood  for— ,84  ; 
—  shipping,  13,  16,  17,  29,  43,  59,  70,  74, 
75,  79,  80,  83,  92,  101,  102,  in,  126, 
r35>  x47>  1 6c,  181,  192,  201,215,219; 
supercargoes  for — ,  160,  188,  221  ;  tin 
for  — ,  84.  Ref.  4,  22,  32,  55.  See 
Canton. 

China  [Sea],  3c. 

Chinaware,  16,  231. 

Chinese  massacre,  off  Sumatra,  163. 

Chingleput,  178,  203,  219,  243,   247,  254. 

Chinnatambi,  156. 

Chintadripet,  8,  II,  28,  31,56,  156,204, 
216,  242. 

Chintz.     See  Piece-goods. 

Cholagga  Nayinar.  Poligarat  Devikottai, 
115. 

Christenings,  etc.,  225. 

Christians,  198. 

Chunam,  204. 

Chunda  Sahib.  Released  by  the  Marathas, 
85  ;  General  of  the  Nawab  of  Arcot,  81  ; 
retires  on  the  Nawab's  defeat,  81  ;  pre- 
judiced by  the  French,  80,  85  ;  rallies 
his  men  against  the  Nawab,  81  ;  pro- 
claimed Nawab,  81,  119;  grants  42 
villages  to  the  French,  81  ;  at  Pondi- 
chery,  82 ;  opposes  Nasir  Jang,  83 ; 
joins  Muzaffar  Jang,  85  ;  invades  the 
Carnatic,  85  ;  defeats  and  kills  Anwar- 
ud-din  Khan,  85  ;  halts  at  Arcot,  85  ; 
reception  at  Pondichery,  85  ;  not  recog- 
nized by  the  English,  85  ;  demands  St. 
Thome,  85  ;  appoints  Father  Antonio 
Havildar  of  St.  Thome,  85  ;  attacks 
Udaiyarpalaiyam,  93  :  attacks  Tanjore, 
93,  94  ;  supported  by  the  French,  114, 
125;  captures  Tiruviti,  114;  attacks 
Chidambaram,  114;  demands  sea  ports 
from  the  English,  119;  takes  Chetpattu, 
139  ;  takes  Ami,  139  ;  to  Arcot,  139  ;  to 
Trichinopoly,  139  ;  at  Srirangam,  140  ; 
pressed  for  money,  144;  crosses  Coleroon, 
144;  takes  Koyiiadi,  144  ;  merely  screens 
French  ambition,  146;  suspected  as  the 
writer  of  Salabat  Jang's  letters,  146; 
prevented  from  collecting  revenues, 
146;  rallies  at  Chetpattu,  148;  at 
Covelong,  148;  defeated  at  Ami,  148; 
his  son  plunders  Poonamallee  villages, 
150 ;  raises  the  siege  of  Trichinopoly, 
166;  retires  to  Srirangam,  166,  172; 
surrenders  to  Manoji,  166;  cut  off,  166, 
172;  his  cause  declining,  171 ;  legality 
of  his  claim,  178.  Ref.  113,  115,  121, 
141,  234,  236,  239. 

Church  and  State,  15. 

Church  at  Madras.  See  Portuguese 
Church  at  Madras. 

Church  at  Vepery,  169,  176,  182,  216,224, 
246. 

Church  organ,  208. 

Church  stock,  69,  71,  72,  90,  91,  98, 
123,  170. 

Church  wardens,  186,  195,  196. 

Churchey,  John.  At  Vizaga.patam,  62, 
I37;  at  Ingeram,  116;  death,   143. 


INDEX 


273 


Cibele,  51. 

Civil  suits,   198. 

Clack,  Joseph.     Ensign,  183,  206. 

Clarke,  John,  88,  178,  208,  244. 

Clarke,  Matthew.     Writer,  127,  136. 

Clinton,  267. 

Clive,  Robert.  Knsign,  40  j  encourage- 
ment to  — ,  56  ;  assaulted  by  brands 
Fordyce,  87;  steward,  95;  senior 
Lieut.,  13S;  promoted  Capt.,  138; 
embarks  for  Madras,  144 ;  to  Arcot, 
144;  occupies  it,  144  ;  offers  to  take 
offensive  if  reinforced,  146  ;  praised, 
147  ;  besieged  at  Arcot,  148  ;  relieved 
by  Captain  Killpatrick,  148 ;  defeats 
the  enemy  at  Ami,  148  ;  marches 
to  Trichinopoly,  152  ;  leaves  F.S.D., 
172;  defeats  d'Auteuil  at  Uttatur 
and  Valikondapuram,  172 ;  captures 
Covelong,  178;  Chingleput,  178;  his 
military  services,  166,  182,  197  ;  present- 
ed with  a  sword,  229. 

Clive,  Mrs.,  186,  265. 

Cochin,  23. 

Cockell,  Elizabeth,  265. 

Cockell,  William.  On  Committee  for 
Country  Government,  155,  169  ; 
Deputy  Governor  and  Second,  155,  157, 
167,  176;  death,  194.  Ref.  161,  191, 
195,  225,  265. 

Cockell,  Mrs.,  186. 

Coffee,  12,  13,  21,  30,  41,  240. 

Coffrees,  50,  83,  111,120,  135,  139,  167, 
176,  188,  192,  209,  215,  221,  226,  241, 
246. 

Coins  and  Coinage — 
Copper  coins,  256. 
Counterfeit  coining,  149.  192. 
Dollars,  4,  13,  42,   65,  103,  202. 
Mohurs,  18. 

Pagodas,  2,  11,  22,  38,  52,  90,  112,  120, 
136,  149,  163,  168.  Star  —  reckoned  by 
the  French  at  Rs.  360  p.c,  165. 
Rupees,  6,  90,  103,  112,  120,  136,  154, 
163,  167  ;  Arcot  — ,  14,  24,  32,  149, 
221. 
Standard  of   coins   to  be   kept   up,  202, 

221. 
See  Mint,  Quick  Stock. 

Coja  Gregorio,  96. 

Coja  Marut  Markar,  96,  100. 

Coja  Miguel,  90. 

Coja  Mirza,  8,  53. 

Coja  Necoos,  213. 

Coja  Petrus  Uscan,  69,  99,  182,  224,  246. 

Coja  Shawmier,  68,  105,  151. 

Coja  Sultan  David,  68. 

Colastry  ['  Collastria  '  j.  King  of — ,142, 
167. 

Colchester,  44 ,  47,  62,  162,  167,  174,  180, 
181,  187,  208,  210,  223,  240,  241,  265, 
266. 

Colefax.  Chaplain,  161,  164,  170,  176, 
182. 

Colefax,  Mrs.,  186. 

Colefax,  Mary,  265. 

Coleroon,  The,  140,  248. 

Coleroon  Point,  70. 

35 


Collins,  Henry.     Supercargo,  83,  88. 

Colombo,  70. 

Combes,  Thomas.     Second  at  the  Xegrais, 

161. 
Commander-in-Chief,     sits    as  Third   and 

advises  on  military  matters,  184. 
Commissaries.      For      receiving      Madras, 

96;  to  inquire  into  infringement  of  the 

treaty,  255. 
Committee.     Appointment  of — ,    158;  — 

of  accounts,  116;  —  for  Country  affairs, 

'55,  '69  ;  —  of  treasury,  158,  169  ; —  of 

works,  156,  242. 
Communion  plate,   76. 
Comorin  (Cape),  179,  212,  214,  237. 
Company's  merchants,  15,24,  31,  120,  136, 

193,  241  ;    their  balances,  2,  3,  6,  7,  9, 

11,  14,  31,  38,  S3,  55,  61,  65,  76,  84,96, 

103,    129,     168,     193;    —  at       F.S.D., 

64,  256  ;  —  at  Madras,  54,  132. 
Company's  servants — 

Conduct :  To  be  watched,  192,  222,  225  ; 
to  be  diligent,  30,  78 ;  dishonesty  and 
disobedience  to  be  discountenanced, 
2,  76,  130,  158,  170,  206;  to  be  frugal, 
225,  244,  245  ;  to  be  harmonious,  155, 
222,  226  ;  immorality  to  be  dis- 
couraged, 206  ;  to  be  obliged  to 
attend  church  every  Sunday,  225 ;  not 
to  resign  without  notice,  195. 

Covenants  and  securities  from  — ,  56,  77, 
131,  164. 

Employment  overseas,  1 82. 

Lists  of—,  3,  IOI,  245. 

Pay  and  allowances  of  — ,  132,  182. 

Perquisites,  225,  245. 

Qualifications  in  Persian,  Country 
languages,  arithmetic  and  book- 
keeping, 131,  195. 

Supersessions  among  --,  185,224. 

Table  for  — ,  40,  49. 

Trade  overseas  prohibited,  2,  224. 

Want  of  — ,  40,  95,  116. 

Work  to  be  frequently  changed,   131. 
Company's  servants  at    Madras.     Position 

of —,'52,  54,56,  76,  87,  89,  158. 
Compass  variations,  107. 
Conference.     See  Sadras. 
Confidential  proceedings,  I24. 
Conicoplies,  40,  50. 
Conjeeveram,  151,  247. 
Consulage,  202,  243. 
Consultations.     Index,     marginal      notes, 

page    dates     to  — ,    132,     195 ;  signing 

of  — ,  109,  225,  245  ;  —  to  note  wills,  69. 
Cooke,  Capt.,  171. 

Cooke,   Lieut.  Francis.     Resigns,   116. 
Cooke,    Thomas.     To    Council,    54,     87 ; 

Second     at    Madras,    122 ;     at    F.S.D., 

169,     176;     Councillor     in    camp,  207, 

212;    his    mercenary    character,      207; 

malicious  charge    against — ,  243  ;     sus- 
pended, 244;  goes  to  Europe,  258.  Kef. 

39,  50,  66,  228,  260. 
Cooper,  Joseph.     Writer,  108. 
Cooper,    Joseph    Edward.     Ensign,     116; 

Quartermaster,  151  ;  Lieut.,  176;  killed, 

175  ;  estate  of  — ,  208. 


274 


INDEX 


Cooum  (river),  43. 

Cope,  Eleanor,  265. 

Cope,  Henry.  Resident  at  Porto  Novo, 
50 ;  Military  Storekeeper,  87. 

Cope,  James.  Ensign,  44  ;  Judge-Advo- 
cate, 50,  105  ;  disciplines  the  military, 
63  ;  Lieut.'  and  Adjutant,  63  ;  Capt.- 
Lieut.,  67;  given  a  company,  88;  to 
help  Muhammad  Ali,  93  ;  to  join  Nasir 
Jang  from  Trichinopoly,  113  ;  joins  the 
Nawab  near  Tiruviti,  114;  to  Trichino- 
poly, 119,  146  ;  death,  151.  Ref.  266. 

Copenhagen,  46. 

Copper,  2,  6,  7,  16,  18,  24,  31,  47,  103, 
120,  202,  221,241  ; —hoops,  152,  193; 
— plates,  191. 

Coral,  6,  22,  23,  28,  41,  49,  100,  127, 
154,  221  ;  —  merchants,  77,  168. 

Cordage,  246. 

Coringa,  150. 

Cork,  229. 

Coromandel,  53,   71.   142,   153. 

Cotesworth,  9. 

Cotton,  48,  63,  84,    135. 

Council.  Its  constitution,  22S  ;  powers,  62, 
230,  232. 

Council  of  War,  68. 

Counterfeit  seals,  146. 

Country  government.  Policy  with  — ,  9, 
15.  54.  56.  76,  104,  121,  128,  130, 
142,  151  ;  troubles  from  — ,  25,  27,  113. 
Ref.   14,  20,  69,    125,   183. 

Country  languages,  195. 

Country  news,  86. 

Country  voyages,   153,   162. 

Court  of  Appeals,  246. 

Court  of  Chancery,  3. 

Court  of  Directors,  1 55- 

Court  of  Equity.  183,    199. 

Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,   198,   208. 

Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  at  Madras,  159. 

Court  of  Requests,  198,  199,  208,  217, 
260. 

Courts-martial,   169,    196,  232,  250. 

Courts.     See  Mayor's  Court  at  Madras. 

Covelong,  10,  81,  117,  118,  i48,  150, 
175,  178,  185,  243. 

Craddock,  Florentia,  265. 

Craig,  Andrew.    Ensign,  206  ;  Lieut.,  244. 

Cranes,  94. 

Crankanalla  Bay,  64. 

Croke,  Edward.  Given  gratuity,  3,  11  ; 
declines  Governorship,  39  ;  his  house, 
49;  on  Council,  53,  56  ;  to  continue  in 
service,  109  ;  disapproves  the  support  of 
Shahjii29;  gratuity  to  — ,158.  Ref.  66. 
Crompton,  C'apt.  John.  Given  a  company, 
88;  at  Vizagapatam,  143;  death,  245 
Ref.  48,  95- 
Crotty,  Andrew.  Cadet,  232,  267 

Crow,  Jacob.  Ensign,  183  ;  death,  206. 

Cuddalore,  Butcher's  shop  at  — ,  104  ; 
fortifications  at  — ,  26,  66,  94,  95  ;  French 
attack  on  — ,  60,  61,  67,  78  ;  —garrison, 
88  ;  hospital  at  — ,  1 21  ;  mint  at  — ,  56. 
Ref.  27,  80,  98,  165. 

Cuddalore,  83,  88,   187,  240,  255. 


Cuddapah,  Nawab  of — .  Murders  Nasir 
Jang,.  118;  his  partisans  oppose  Nizam 
Ali,  125  ;  stops  a  French  party,  171.  Ref. 
9,  25. 

Cumberland,   233,   250,   253,  254. 

Cumberland,  Duke  of — ,  189,  190. 

Cumming,  Capt.  James,  55. 

Cypher,  253. 


Dalaway,  at  Srirangam,  249,  255. 

Dalrymple,  Alexander.     Writer,  191,  205. 

Dalton,  Capt.  John.  Given  a  company,  88  ; 
accompanies  the  embassy  to  Nasir  Jang, 
94  ;  allegations  regarding  the  French, 
123  ;  defeats  the  enemy  at  Uttatur,  140  ; 
crosses  the  Cauveri,  140  ;  resign*,  217. 
Ref.  211. 

Damaji,  139. 

Dampier  (Frenchman),  260. 

Danish  Competition,  38,  136 ;  deserters, 
257  ;  missionaries,  131,  156,  159,  168, 
176,  182,  216,  224  ;  shipping,  5,  20, 
138,  143,  171,  176,   213. 

Darke,    Joseph.    Ensign,    222,  244,  267. 

David,  Sultan,  20,  226. 

Davidson,  John.  .  Writer,  191,  205. 

Davis,  Ensign,  183. 

Davis,  William,  9,  43. 

Dawson,  George.     Writer,  127,  136,  205. 

Dawson,  Jacob.     Mariner,  108. 

Deal  Castle,  59,  70,  90. 

Death  returns,  56. 

Deccan,  177,  233,238  ;  Viceroy  of — ,  139, 
234,  236,  238,  239. 

Delavaux,  Capt.  Alexander.  Chief  Engi- 
neer and  Capt.  of  the  Artillery  train, 
57.  58 ;  opinion  on  the  defence  of 
FS.D.,  68;  deserts,  83,  88.  Ref.  66, 
67,  86,  94,  95,  101,  108,  266. 

Delawar,  56,  59,  71,  IOI,  112,  159, 
160,  174,  180,  181,  187,  188,  201,  202, 
208,  213,   223. 

Delhi,  no,  125,  210. 

Dencker,  Peter,  27,  53,  76,  104,  105,  127, 
196,  207. 

Detiham,  223,  227,  240,  255. 

D'ptford,  27,  29,  59,  90. 

Deserters,  169,  234,  237-38,  255,  257. 

Desertion.     Act  regarding" — ,  232. 

Despatches.  Late  — ,  to  be  sent  by  the 
Bombay  ships,  188  ;  shortness  of  Madras 
—  complained  of,  IOI. 

Destitute  men.     To  be  sent  home,  164. 

Devanampattanam,   19,  45,  62,  66  ;  Dutch- 
factory  at  — ,  50,  76,  91  ;  —  river,  95. 

Devanampattanam ,  98. 

Devikottai.  Described,  81 ;  occupied,  81  ; 
plan  of  — ,  82  ;  to  be  captured,  86 ;  its 
revenues,  etc.,  86;  farman  for — ,  115, 
119  ;  survey  of — ,  121  ;  to  be  self-sup- 
porting, 130  ;  its  capture  disapproved, 
129  ;  but  to  be  maintained  and  retained, 
130,  141,  224;  formally  granted  by 
Tanjore,  155;  fortifications  at — ,  175, 
242,  258  ;  investment  at  — ,  242,  256. 
Ref.  94,  235,  238,  239,  247,  248. 


i  NDEX 


275 


Devikottai,  Chief  of — ,  169^  182,  205. 

Diamond  island,  209. 

Diamonds,  13,  21,  22,  23,  28,  41,  46,  5r, 
53,  62,  64,  69,  77,  80,  91,  99,  in,  117, 
124,  125,  13S,  144,  147,  183,  186,  187, 
208,  214,  218,  246,  260  ;  merchants,  30, 
77,  202  ;  registry  of — ,  152. 

Diana,  171. 

Dickenson,  John.  Lieut,  of  the  train, 
186. 

Diet  money,  41,  57,  164,  216. 

Dimities.     See  Piece-goods. 

Disputes.  Easily  disposable  —  should  not 
be  referred  home,  225. 

Divi  island,  118,  119,  124,  145,  147,  149, 
154,  174,  179,  333.  235,  236,  237,  238. 

Dobbins,  Charles,  195. 

Dodington,  126,  133. 

Dogan,  William.    Mariner,   77. 

Dolben,  George.  Writer,  161,  164,  169, 
216. 

Dolphin,  5,  13,  14,  16,  17,  iS,  21,  22.  23, 
28,  29,  56,  57,  102. 

Dominicus,  Abraham,  159,  187. 

Donaldson,  Lawrence.  Ensign,  44,  67, 
266. 

Don  Cailos,  118,  147,  187. 

Dorrill,  Capt,  124. 

Douglas,  Dr.,  117. 

Doulatabad,  210. 

Downes,  The,  71. 

Dowsett,  Robert.     Writer,  220. 

Dragon,  79,  84,  126,  143,  144,  151,  181, 
.  188,  201,  202,  213,  215,  240,  256. 

Drake,  Dawsonne.  Military  Paymaster, 
116;  Supervisor  of  the  West  Coast, 
205  ;  declines  to  go,  206,  244  ;  Upper- 
searcher,  244,  259. 

Drake,  George.     Writer,  16,  26. 

Drake.     Governor,  216. 

Drake,  Roger.  On  Secret  Committee, 
220. 

Drake,  160,  165,  215,  266. 

Due  £  Orleans,  251. 

Duke,  13. 

Duke  of  Cumberland,  m,  118,  128,  133. 
*  Duke  of  Dorset,  55,  59,  138,  266 

Duke  of  Parma,  138. 

Dumarchais,  83,  88,  116,  133. 

Duncombe  [Duncumbe',  John.  Writer, 
30,  40,  49,  61,  78. 

Dupleix.  Attacks  F.S.D.,  20,  51  ;  seeks 
Nawab's  mediation,  49,  51  ;  gets  Cove- 
long,  81  ;  hatred  of  the  English,  81,  Si, 
85;  helps  Chunda  Sahib,  81,  85; 
supports  Muzaffar  Jang,  85  ;  their  recep- 
tion at  Pondichery,  85,  118;  gets 
farman  to  Father  Antonio  for  St.  Thome, 
85;  his  power  in  the  Carnatic,  119; 
protests  against  — ,  123,  125,  140  ; 
slights  English  claims  to  Trichinopoly, 
140  ;  accuses  Goodere,  145  ;  his  hand 
in  Salabat  Jang's  letters,  146  ;  styled 
'  Moghal's  Governor,'  146  ;  obstructs 
English  trade  in  the  North,  148 ;  his 
lengthy  letter  on  Carnatic  affairs,  152, 
193  ;  proposes  peace,  167  ;  seeks  help 
from   Deccan,  171  ;   disappointed,    173  ; 


Dupleix— cont. 
confines  Law,  173  ;  foments  disputes 
between  the-  Marathas  and  Mysoreans, 
T73  ;  negotiates  with  them,  179  ;  seizes 
a  Swiss  company  going  to  V .  S.  D., 
'79,  185  ;  his  ambition,  179, 
212,  219  ;  frustrates  the  Sauras  con- 
ference, 214  ;  considers  prisoners  as 
hostages,  211  ;  financially  backed  by  the 
French  Company  and  Government,  212  ; 
calls  Murta/.a  Ali  Khan  his  deputy,  249; 
leaves  for  Europe,  251  ;  his  policy,  251. 
Ref.  10,  12,  27,  28,  29,  35,  62,  63,  70, 
95.  97,  216,  217,  237,  239. 

Dupleix,  Madame.  Receives  Porto  Novo, 
81. 

Dupre,  Josias.  Factor,  164,  169  ;  Secre- 
tary, 205,  216. 

Durand,  Capt.,  241. 

Durgarayapatnam,  31,  47,  84. 

Durringtun,  5,  II,  13,  153,  161,  162,  167, 
172,  201,  215,  218,  265,  266. 

Dutch.  At  Batavia,  98  ;  in  Borneo,  112  ; 
in  Ceylon,  25  ;  at  Devanampattanam, 
50,  76,  91  ;  in  Malacca,  72,  216,  257  ; 
at  Masulipatam,  117,  145,  176;  at 
Negapatam,  187  ;  at  Porto  Novo,  27  ; 
in  Sumatra,  163  ;  in  Tavoy,  210  ;  in 
Tenasserim,  224;  —  competition,  7,  18, 
28,  31,  38,  63; — deserters,  255,  257; 
—  hostility  to  the  French,  53,  68  ;  — 
policy  in  the  Carnatic,  141,  143,  152, 
155  ;—  shipping,  21,  70,  138,  153,  171  ; 
tribute  for  Pulicat  and  Sadras,  219. 

Dutch  settlements.     Residents  in  — ,  87. 

Duvelaer,  234,  237. 


Eagle,  229,  233. 

Eastcourt,  266. 

East  India  bonds,  186,  226. 

East  India  Company.  Preferred,  9  ; 
allowed  free  trade,  140  ;  acts  only  as 
mediators,  177  ;  its  prestige,  148,  150. 

Eckman,  Lieut.  Peter,  77,  89. 

Edgebaslon,  29,  59,  70,  190,  191,  267. 

Edgecote,  59,  160,  265,  266. 

Edwards,  Edward.  Factor  and  assay- 
master,  77;  alderman,  20S.  Ref.  112, 
217. 

Edwards,  Elizabeth,  265. 

Edwards,  John,  265. 

Egmont,  20i,  265. 

Fgmore,  87,  216  ;  —  redoubt,  182,  224. 

Elizabeth,  59,  91,  92,  94,  97,  99,  113,  153, 
201,  265. 

Elliott,  Mary,  265. 

EUham,  12,  17,  47,  51,  59,  90. 

Embden  [Emden],  128,  251,  256;  — 
Company,  227. 

Emerald,  30,  127,  221. 

hmpson,  Matthew.  Sheriff,  27  ;  re-enter- 
tained, 52  ;  death,  151.  Ref.  225, 
246. 

Engineer,  Chief,  57. 

Engineering.  Instructions,        106-107  ; 

training  in  — ,  58. 


w 


Index 


English  prisoners  in  Ceylon,  15,  25. 

English  Squadron,  5,  6,  12,  17,  18,  2t,  27, 
28,  30,  33,  36,  39,  45,  46,  47,  50,  51,54, 
55,  59,  61,  64,  67,  69,  75,  77,  79,  S3,  90, 
95,  106,  no,  116,  158,  227,  228,  229, 
230,  233,  249,  250,  253. 

English  trade,  endangered,  117. 

Erdman,  Jean  Carl,  267. 

Espremenil,  d',  34. 

Essex,  240,  266,  267. 

Establishment  lists,  101,  158. 

Estates,  of  persons  dying  in  India,  229, 
246. 

Exchange  rates,  to  be  sent  home,  154. 

Exeter,  41,  47,  51,  59,  60,  69,  90,  12S, 
161. 

Expedition,  28. 

Extraordinary  occurrences,  124. 

Eyles,  147. 

Eyre,  Thomas,  36,  39,  50,  99,  125,  196, 
207,  217. 


Fabry,  John.     Cadet,  232. 

Fail  let,  27. 

Fairfield,    Richard.    Writer,    30,    66,    116, 

137,  '95.  2o8>  2I7>  244,  246. 
Falmouth,   57. 
Falmouth,  201,  265. 
Fame,  21. 
Fanny,  46. 
Farms.     To  be  sold  at  outcry,    3  ;  how  to 

be  let  out,  224. 
Farmans.     Collections,  etc.,  104,  125. 
Favoretta  [Favor i,  Favorite],  5,  12,  20,  63. 
Feake,  Samuel,  29. 
Feild,  Rev.  James,  22. 

Fernandes,  David    Lopez.      Diamond  and 
coral  merchant,  77. 

Fine  goods.     See  Piece-goods. 

Fire  precautions,  2. 

Fisher,  Christopher.    Ensign,  183  ;   Lieut., 
206. 

Flaction,  Franoois.   Cadet,  267. 

Flinn,  Hugh,  88. 

Flint,  James.       Linguist,  55. 

Flints,  231. 

Floyer,  Charles.  Councillor,  38,  54,62,  73, 
80.    See  Fort  St.  David,  Governor  of  — . 

Fogo,  51. 

Forbes,  Capt.,  247,  248. 

Fordyce,    Francis.     Abuses    Floyer,   etc., 
87;   suspended,  87,    131.     Ref.  30,    40, 

41,  54- 
Fortifications.  Observations  on  — ,  57  ;  new 

not    to  be  built,    83  ;    new  —  to    be 

pulled  down,  235,    239.     Ref.  104,    121, 
130,  190.     See  Madras,  Fort    St.  David, 

etc. 
Fort  Marlborough,     161,     202,    260,    265. 

See  Sumatra. 
Fort  St.  David- 
Accounts,  3,  123,  163,  2)8. 
Attack    on   and  defence    of  — ,  28,  34, 

35,  36,  37,  40,  45,  51,  53,  54,  85,  98. 
Buildings  in  or  near  —  ,   19,  75,  80,  87, 
155,224. 


Fort  St.  David — con*. 
Civil  Courts  at  — ,  62. 
Council  at  — ,  157. 

Fortifications,  etc.,  15,  19,  26,  39,45, 
49,  54,  58,  61,  65,  66,  74,  81,  83,  86, 
92,95,  102,104,106,  134,  142,  155, 
168,  175,  182,  190,  203,  204,  1216,  224, 
»42,  258. 
Gambling,  78. 

Investment,  7,  8,  28,  36,  45,  48,  52,   59, 
69,  84,  92,  93,  103,  113,  215,  242,  252, 
256. 
Revenues.     Farms,  39,  117,  169;  arrack, 
66  ;  bete!     and    tobacco,    19 ;    bound 
rent,  66  ;  customs,  etc.,  49,   66,    117, 
258;     Devikottai,      118,      119,     125; 
Poonamallee,  119;  St.  Thome,    119; 
Tiruvendipuram,  118,   119,    121,    125, 
242, 
Seat  of  Presidency,  53,  54,  80,  89,   132, 
170. 
Fort  St.  David.     Governor  of — . 

Floyer,  Charles.  Confirmed  as  — ,  56  ; 
dismissed  for  gambling,  108;  his 
accounts  to  be  scrutinised,  109,  no; 
allows  monopolies,  127;  his  conduct 
towards  Shahji,  etc.,  I29-130 ;  goes 
home,  116.  Ref.  39,  66,  73,  99,  104, 
117,  128,  202. 
Hindu,  John,  ?o,  28,  35,  39,  41,  46,   53, 

54,  71,  80. 
Saunders,  Thomas.     Governor,  108,  157, 
228;  arrives,  Hi;  conduct  appreciated, 
155  ;    on   the    Committe   for  Country 
affairs,  155,    161,    169,  230 ;  on  Com- 
mittee   of     Treasury,     169  ;    his    mis- 
understanding   with     Lawrence,    222, 
243.     Ref.    142,    172,    173,  191,    212, 
240,  258. 
Fort  St.  George.     See  Madras. 
Fort  St.  George,  59,  65,   83,    88,  92,    11 1, 

H2,  118,  128. 
Fort  William,  8,  28,  189.     See  Bengal. 
Fortune,  181,  187. 

h'oulis,  Sir  James  (from    Bombay).     Offers 
his  services,    243  ;    presented    with  50P 
Pags.,  259;  returns  to  Bombay,  259. 
Fowke,    Edward.      Store-keeper,     11 ;    to 

give  security,  32  ;  sails  for  Europe,  50. 
Fowke,  Francis.     F'ree  merchant,  131. 
Fowke,      Joseph.      Under-searcher,      n  ; 
elected    Mayer,  27 ;    on  Council,    102, 
108,    115,    157;    resigns,  143,    151  ;    his 
bond,  207. 
Fowke,     Randall.       Allowances,    16;    at 
Pulicat,    36 ;  in    Bengal,    40 ;    declines 
Company's  service,  87.     Ref.  22,  26. 
F"owke,  Church  warden,  123; 
Fox.     Permits   Heron   to   enter  the  Com- 
pany's service,  232. 
Foxall,  Sidney,  38,  40,  52,  56,  66,  77. 
France,  3,  5,  28. 
Franks,  Aaron,  196. 
Fraser,    John.     Ensign,    190,  267  ;  Lieut., 

244. 
Free  merchants.     To  give  security,  164  ;  to 
give    a   month's    notice    before    leaving 
India,  195.     Ref.  224. 


tNDEX 


277 


French — 

Ambition  and   interference,    7,  15,   27, 

31.79.  85,93.  97.  98,  I",  114,  121, 
123,  125,  130,  141,  146,  15?,  154,  163, 
181,  193,  212. 

In  the  Carnatic.  Attack  F.S.D.,  20» 
37,  45.  50.  5i,  S3.  54,  7§;  capture 
Madras,  33  ;  refuse  to  exchange 
prisoners,  40  ;  support  Chunda  Sahib 
and  Muzaffar  Jang,  So,  83,  85,  114, 
125,  139  ;  receive  42  villages  from 
Chunda  Sahib,  81  ;  get  lands  round 
Madras  and  F.S.D.,  81,  121  ;  seize 
two  English  ships,  98  ;  encamp 
near  Pondichery,  113  ;  raise  the  siege 
of  Tanjore,  113  ;  before  Chidambaram, 
114;  at  Tiruviti,  114;  attack  the 
Nawab,  114;  capture  Gingee,  114; 
claim  as  principals,  117  ;  remove 
English  Hags  at  Kumbakonam,  140 ; 
cannot  advance  nearer  Trichinopoly, 
146;  burn  Poonamallee  villages,  1 50  ; 
attack  Lawrence  at  Koyiladi,  166 ; 
at  Tiruvadi,  180  ;  defeated  at  Trichi- 
nopoly, 211  ;  capture  Tiruviti, 
Chidambaram  and  Vriddhachalam^ 
211;  their  sannads  spurious,  214. 
refuse  to  recognise  Muhammad  Ali 
214;  at  Srirangam,  214,  248  ;  owe  q 
lakhs  to  Morari  Rao,  249.     See  Law. 

In  Europe.  Negotiate  for  peace,  220. 
In  Malabar,  142,  167. 
In  the  North.  Factors  at  Masulipatam 
imprisoned,  117  ;  to  Golconda,  11S  ; 
invest  Narsapur,  136  ;  demand  4  lakhs 
of  rupees  of  Nizam  Ali,  138-139  ;  at 
Aurangabad,  145  ;  fortify  Masuli- 
patam, 145,  149,  172  ;  fortify  Divi 
Island,  I45,  149  ;  grants  from  Muzaf- 
far Jang,  149 ;  cannot  oust  the 
English,  172  ;  help  Salabat  Jang,  177  ; 
cannot  draw  Salabat  fang  to  the 
Carnatic,  183,  210  ;  nor  get  a  sanad 
for  Arcot  province,  183 ;  in  the 
Deccan,  210,  213  ;  got  Rajahmundry 
and  Chicacole  mortgaged,  213,  214, 
219  ;  cannot  give  up  Northern  grants, 
250. 

In  Pegu,  150. 

In  Persia,  10. 

In  Tenasserim,  224. 

Commissary,  222. 

Deserters,  40,  99,  255,  257. 

Investment,  2,  98,  117,  135,   138. 

Military  strength  and  prestige,  27,  40, 
50,  52,  123,  141,  163,  179,  180,  184, 
212,  252. 

Prisoners,  28,  57,  172,  173,  179,  253,254, 
255. 

Shipping,  12,  18,  21,  27,  28,  35,  36,  51, 
70,  90,  92,  98,  117,  123,  125,  138,  152, 
153,  171,  176,  186,  213,  251. 

Squadron,  33,  34,  46,  51,  59,  60,  68, 
100,  194. 

Friell,  Chief  of  Masulipatam,  140. 

*  Fryers  Hood',  17. 


Cadi  Rao.     Tanjore  leader,  247. 

Gage,  Thomas.      Writer,  3. 

Galle,  36,  180,  181. 

Gallopine,  Peter.      Mariner,  131. 

Gambling,  78,  9c,  108,  109,  116. 

Ganjam,  8,  11,  18,  22,  25,  28,  38,96,    104, 

115,  122,  136,  146,  155. 
Garde-des-Sreaitx ,  226. 
Garnets,  6. 
Gaupp,  George  Frederick,    169,    176,    185, 

217,  243,  244,  245,  266. 
Gay,  James.     Free  merchant,  13. 
Gentoos,  8,  151. 
Geographical  researches  by    the    Engineer, 

107. 
George,  47,  74. 
Germans,  190,  196,  205. 
Gertrude,    Father    Angelo    de.     At    Cove- 
long,  117,  185. 
Ghazi-ud-din      (Subahdar      of      Deccan). 
Nominates  Salabat  Jang  as   his  deputy, 
139  ;  and  Muhammad   Ali  as  Nawab  of 
Arcot,    146,    178  ;  replaced    by    Salab.it 
Jang,  146;  hostile   to  the    French,   171  ; 
reaches   Aurangabad    with    Nana,     177, 
180,    18^;    poisoned,    183,    210.       Ref. 
248. 
Gheria,  92.  » 

Gibson,     Capt.       George.       At     F.S.D., 

45  ;    services  appreciated,  50.  Ref.  63. 
Gingee.       As   key    of   the    Carnatic,    237. 

Ref.  94,  114,  144,  173,  178,  236,  239. 
Ginghams.     See  Piece-goods. 
Gingins    [Gingens],     Capt.    Rodolph    de. 
At   Tiruvendipuram,    139  ;    at    Tiruviti, 
139  ;  takes  Vriddhachalam,  139  ;  defeat- 
ed   at   Valikondapuram,    139  ;   retires  to 
Uttatur,  139  ;  leaves  command  to  Capt. 
Cope,    146  ;  attacks    the    enemy's   rear, 
150  ;  acts  with  Capt.   Give,    152;  goes 
home,    181  ;    his    merit,    197.      Ref.  15, 
26,  27,  52,  63,  97,    172,   208. 
Glass,  215. 
Glass,     Philip.     Assistant  Engineer,     107  ; 

ensign,  143. 
Goa,  Viceroy  of — ,  117. 
Goddard,  Joseph,  12,  15,  26,  27. 
Godeheu,  226,  249,  250,  253,  255 
Godolphin,  5,  6,  162,    167,    181,    185,    187, 

265. 
Godwin,  Lieut.  Benjamin,  245. 
Gogo,  46. 

Golcorda,  118,  136,  138. 
Gold.  For  and  from  China,  1,  147,  175  ; 
dearness,  18,  41,  90,  112,  136,  181  ; 
price  current,  154,  168,  175  ;  private  — , 
264;  touch  of — ,  149.  Ref.  165,  192, 
193,  202,  223,  228. 
Gombroon,  2. 

Goodere,  Robert,  56,    108,    115,    123,  137, 
142,  145,  147,  151,   153,    157,   176,   195, 
207,  220,  225. 
Goodwin,    Cornelius,    87,    108,    in,    115, 

186. 
Goodyere,  Major,  73. 
Gooty,  255. 


27% 


INDEX 


Gopinath,  9. 

Gordon,  William,  67. 

Gough,  Harry,  3,  29,  44. 

Governors.     Dubashes,   216  ;  plate  for  — , 

260.     See  Madras,  F.S.D. 
Govinda  Chetti,  149. 
Graham,  John,  19,  26,  27. 
Graham,  Phoebe,  66. 
Graham,  Mrs.,  105,  116,  164. 
Grain,  II,  39,  103,  215  ;  duty,  216. 
Granaries.      Lack  of  — ,  150. 
Grant,  John.     Ensign,  67  ;  Lieut.,  206. 
Grants  to  the  English,  119. 
Grantham,  104,  ill,  134. 
Gray,  Tohn  (carpenter),  53,  76,  105,  196. 
Green.     Ensign,  183. 
Greenhaugh,  Mrs.  Hannah,  11. 
Greenhaugh,    Samuel,   87,    108,    III,   115, 

208. 
Greenslate,   Philip    Francis.     Writer,  127, 

136,  259. 
Greenville,   Lieut.    Thomas,  67,  206,   225, 

241,  259. 
Gregory,  Michael,  TJ,  loo. 
Grierson,  Capt.,  243. 
Griffin,   Admiral    Thomas,  29,    36,  37,    39, 

41,  45,  46,   47,  51,  54,  59,   60,    68,   69, 

73.75.  98,  no. 
Griffin,  79. 
Grindal    [Grindall],     Richard.      Surgeon, 

no,  127. 
Gruff  goods,  13,  74,  128. 
Guns,  6,  18,  31,  49,  55,  68,  117,    128,   149, 

159,  165,  204,  234. 
Gun-powder,  58,  65,  103,    112,    120,    133, 

149,  152,  167,   181,    185,   189,   193,  202, 

220,  221,  224. 
Gun-powder  mill,  175,  221,  222,  224,  240, 

242. 
Gurtler,  Frederick,  266. 
Guzarattees,  139. 
Gyfford,  Mrs.  Catherine,   16,22. 

H 

Haji  Hadi.  Reporter  of  Country  affairs, 
86;  accompanies  the  embassy  to  Nasir 
Jang,  94  ;  allowance,  130  ;  his  deceit, 
ill.     Ref.  32,  246. 

Hallyburton,  John,  15,  25,  40,  52,  56,  60. 

Hamilton,  John.     Writer,   220. 

Hancock,  Tyso  Saul.     Surgeon,  137,  245. 

Harcourt,  267. 

Harding,  John.     Ensign,  49. 

Eanlu-icke,  55,59,  135,  1^3,  192,  201. 

Harper,  William.      Fnsign,  1 16,  139. 

Harris,  Edward,  36,  96,  207. 

Harris.    Agent  of  Embden  Company,  227. 

Harrison,  John.  Ensign,  116  ;  Lieut.,  183  ; 
Capt.  Lieut.,     245. 

Harrison,  Martin.     Ensign,  206. 

Harrison,  Samuel,  n,  69,  105,  123,  163, 
170. 

Hart,  Simon.      Ensign,  244. 

Harivich,   23,  29,  41,  51,  59,  90. 

riatuke,  143. 

Hawkins,  199. 

Head-money,  188,   189,  246. 


John,  44,   50,  60,  62,  63, 
Inspects    the    mint,    52  ; 


Heath,  Thomas.  Writer,  57;  failed  as 
Engineer,  66,  108  ;  to  be  sent  home, 
197  ;  placed  under  Col.  Scott.,  216;  at 
Madapollam,  216.     Ref.   205,  242. 

Hector,  174. 

Helbutt.   Jacob   Moses.     Free    merchant, 

13- 
Heron,     Lieut. -Col.      Alexander.      Takes 
up  Company's  service,  227,  232  ;  comes  on 

the  Warren,   228,  231  ;  Major  and  Third, 

228,  229  ;  marches  to   Madura,  254.  Ref. 

195.  255. 
Heydecker   [Heydegger],     John     Conrad, 

176,   245,  266. 
Higginson,  George,  226. 
Hilfer,  George,  196,  206,  267. 
Hinde,  John.     See  Fort  St.  David,  Gover, 

nor  of — . 
Hindley.      Death,  260. 
Hislop,  Capt. -Lieut.  William,  229,  233. 
Hockett,    Lieut.   James,  91,  95,  123,    138, 

197. 
Hodges,  Francis.     Mariner,  77. 
Holdernesse,  Lord,  230,  252. 
Holdman,  John.  Ensign,  96. 
Holland,  163. 
Hollard,  15,  26. 
Hollond,  Lieut. 

78. 
Holt,    William. 

Councillor,     54,     56,    66 ;     Commissary 

to  receive  Madras,  74  ;  disordered,   79  ; 

suspended  and  sent  home,  87  ;  dismissed 

for  gambling,    10S.     Ref.  19,    105,  129, 

131- 

Holt,  Ensign  William.     Death,   206. 

Hood,  Lieut.  John,  123, 

Hopkins,  Amelia,  265. 

Hopkins,  Charles.  Factor,  53  ;  Sub-ac- 
countant, 20,  53,  76  ;  resigns,  122  ;  to 
Divi  Island  and  Masulipatam,  119,  137, 
140,  154  ;  arrested  by  the  French,  140  ; 
at  Ingeram,  151  ;  at  Devikottai,  182, 
205.  Ref.  116,  123,  218. 
Hospital  Assistants,  176. 

Hough,  Samuel.     Free  merchant,  no. 

Houghton,  30,  36,  38,  45. 

Howes,  Capt.  John  (Bengal),  259. 

Hubbard,  James,  136. 

Hugli,  The,  33,  37,  118,  128. 

Hugonin,  James,  3,  37,  55. 

Hume,  Alexander,  29,  44,  230. 

Hunter,  David,  )6l,  1S7,  208,  209,  213, 
218,  224,  246. 

Hussey,  John,  265. 

Hyderabad,   210,  255. 


I 


llchester,  45,  46,  47,  240,  265,  267. 

Illens,    Lewis  d'  Captain,    190,    191,    196, 

197,  205,  267. 
Import     Warehouse -keeper.     Not      to    be 

in  charge  of  bullion  and  rupees,  158. 
Independents,  82,  88. 
Indians.     Not  to  be    employed  as  writers, 

222  ;  oaths  for  — ,  198,  199  ;  suits  between 

-198. 


INDEX 


279 


Ingeram.  Investment,  7,  18,  22,  24,  27,  28,  1 
36,  37,38,  64^  93,  113,    136,  143,    181,  j 
189,  203,    215,  256   ;   produces  madapol-  1 
lams,    25.     Ref.    25,  109,    124,  148,    150, 
16S,  239.     See  Northern  factories. 

Innis  [Innes],  John.  Ensign,  67  ;  Lieut. 
116  ;  to  Madras,  144  ;  Capt.,  244. 

Invalids.     List  of  — ,  259. 

Investment,    2,  30,  54,  55,  65,   73,  83,  127,  | 
(29,    135.    145,    147,    168,  189,  193,  221,  1 
241,  262-63  ;  too  small  to  cover  expenses,  j 
223  ;    written  tenders  to    be   called    for, 
223  ;  to  be  free,  228.     See    Sale  by  out- 
cry. J 

Iron,  16,  18,  44,  55,65,  102,  10S,  126,  174, 
189,  193,  22I,  223,  231,  241  ;  Russian 
— ,  127,  129,  135. 

Irwin,  John,  265. 

Isaac,  Ephraim.   Free  merchant,  13,  217. 

Iselin,  Jean  Jacques.     Cadet,  267. 

Ispahan,  68. 

Ivory,  16,  210. 

Izarees.     See  Piece-goods. 


Jackson.     Death,  52. 

Tacob,  John.     Serjeant,  266. 

Jacobs,  Capt.  Edward,  97. 

jaegar,  Ferdinand.     Ensign,  245. 

Jaffar  Ali  Khan  (Nawab  of  Rajahmundry), 

146,  148,  172,  214,  219,  248. 
fagannatha  Prasad,  9. 
Jaggu,  of  Chintadripet,  156,  176,  204,  224. 
Jaghir,  243. 
James  (Secretary),  191. 
Japan,  68. 
Jedda,  69. 
Jennings,    William.     Lieut,   of  Artillery, 

222,  267. 
Jeronimo,  169. 
Jesuit    missionaries,    1 70,    183,     195,   226, 

259- 
•  Joanna  ',  171. 
Johnson,  Henry  Eustace.  Writer,  131,  164, 

259- 
Johnson,  Samuel.     Writer,  220. 
Jones,  George,    II,  14,  39,  45,  49,    50,  67, 

87,  95,  96,  97- 
Jong,  de.     Chief  of  Pulicat,  35. 
Judge-Advocate.    Appointment  of  — ,  232, 

259  ;  convenes  courts-martial,  232. 
Justice  of  the  Peace,   198. 
Jute.     From  Bengal,  187. 

K 

Kandy,  King  of  — ,  25. 

Karikal,  19,  20,  27,  50. 

Kasidas,  Bukanji,  133,   136  (?). 

Kaveripak,  172. 

Keene,  William,  44,  206,  266. 

Kent,    14,23,    37,3s,    102.108,    135,167, 

228,  229,  231,  240,   246,   250,  254,  255. 
Kent,  Capt.  Henry,  188,  202,  215. 
Kerjean.      To    represent  the  French     and 

Country  powers,  214. 
Kiernander,  98. 


Kill patrick,   Capt.    James,    116,    143,   144 

145,  147,  148,  197.  244. 
King,  William  Smyth,  40,  52,  89,  151,  192, 

208. 
Kingfisher,  229,  246,  250,  254,  257,  260. 
King  William,  5. 

King's  troops,  229,  230,  251,  253,  260. 
Kinneer,    Major    William,    157,    163,    167, 

169,    171,    175,  178,  181,  182,    1S4,   186, 

187,  191,  196,  197,  207,  225,  266. 
Kirk,  Alexander.      Death,  206. 
Kistna,  The,  17,  29,  119,  179,  237. 
Klein,  16. 
Knapton,     Charles.      Assistant     Engineer, 

107,  143,  205,  242,  259. 
Knipe,  Major,  2,  3,  10,  32,  44,  52. 
Knowles,  Capt.  Thomas,  229. 
Knox,  Randfurlie.     Ensign,  226. 
Koyiladi,   166. 
Krishnaji  Pantulu,  2,  9. 
Krishnapatam,  31. 
Kumarappa,    84. 
Kumbakonam,  140,  179. 
Kurnool,    Nawab    of  — ,   9,    25,    118,  124, 

125,  171. 


La  Bourdonnais,  38,  41,  46,  57. 

Lac,  74. 

Lalapet,  18. 

La  Mettrie,   Quentin  de,   82,   92,    97,   98 

155- 

Lampasses.     See  Piece-goods. 

Lands.     Alienation  of — ,  76,  216. 

Langford,  Lieut.  Thomas,  259. 

Lapwing,  41,  42,  43,  55,  56,  59,  60,  62, 
9r,  92,  99,  I00>  I02>  IJI>  I26>  129,  266. 

Lascars.     See  Military,  Shipping. 

Latham,  Capt.  Thomas,  229. 

Lauder,  James,  31. 

Lauzunn,  Francis,  267. 

Lavaur,  Father,  214. 

Laverock,  John.     Cadet,  233. 

Law.  Surrenders  at  Srirangam,  172  ;  con- 
fined, 173  ;  accompanies  Salabat  Jang  to 
the  south,  255.     Ref.  179. 

Law  books,  199, 

Lawrence,  Stringer.  Major,  44,  50,  52  ; 
to  convene  courts  martial,  50,  99,  217  ; 
on  Council,  52,  53,  54,  56,  108,  157  ;  to 
advise  on  fortifications,  58  ;  defends 
Cuddalore,  60,  78  ;  prisoner,  60  ; 
released,  62,  63  ;  opinion  on  the  defence 
of  F.  S.  D.,  68  ;  Commissary  to  receive 
Madras,  •  74,  80;  salary,  etc., — ,  44, 
76,  109,  no,  157  ;  to  reorganize  the 
companies,  83  ;  in  charge  of  Madras, 
88  ;  given  a  company,  88  ;  ambassador 
to  Nasir  Jang,  94,  95,  114;  to  report 
onofficers,  105  ;  in  charge  of  F.S.D., 
in;  recalls  the  troops,  114;  resigns 
and  goes  home,  116;  his  conduct 
towards  Shahji,  etc.,  129  ;  regulates 
officers'  pay,  142  ;  on  the  Committee  for 
Country  affairs,  155,  160,  104,  228  ; 
Commander-in-Chief  of  all  Company's 
forces,    157  ;     reaches    Koyiladi,     166  ; 


280 


INDEX 


Lawrence,  Stringer— cont. 

defeat  ihe  French,  166  ;  joins  the  camp  at 
Trichinopoly,  166,  169,  172  ;  intends  to 
leave  for  Bengal,  167,  205  ;  ordered  to 
Gingee,  173;  nominates  officers,  176; 
returns  to  Trichinopoly,  1 77  ;  falls  ill, 
178  ;  to  Tiruviti,  178;  his  dissatisfaction, 
180;  his  power  of  appointment,  184  ;  his 
rank  not  to  clash  with  that  of  Scott,  190  ; 
his  conduct  before  Trichinopoly  extolled, 
197  ;  to  Tanjore,  21 1,  212  ;  to  abide  only 
by  the  Council's  orders,  213;  ill,  213, 
216  ;  obliged  to  be  on  the  defensive,  219  ; 
his  misunderstanding  with  Saunders, 
etc.,  222,  226,  243 ;  presented  with  a 
sword.  229,  232 ;  Commissary  for 
provisional  treaty,  233  ;  relieved  by  Major 
Heron,  243  ;  to  Tanjore,  247  ;  defeats 
the  French  off  Trichinopoly,  248.  Ref. 
61,  67,  73,  96,  113,  117,  159,  161,  163, 
181,  182,  191,  207,  221,  225,  230,  231, 
244,  245,  265,  266. 

Lead,  7,    16,    18,   24,  42,   55,  65,   93,  160, 
174,  203,  220,221,  223,  231,  24I. 

Learner,  Henry,  71,  88. 

Lefevre,  William,  131,  175,  208. 

Leghorn,  100. 

Lennox.    Permitted  to  remain  in  Tndia,  63  ; 
ordered  home,  105. 

Le  Riche,  50. 

Le  Rochelle,  138. 

Le  Saint  Priest,  138. 

Letters  of  Marque,   2. 

Lewis,  Ensign,   175. 

Leyrit,  de.,  Chief  of  Mane,  exchanged  for 
Morse,  50 ;      expected      from       Bengal, 

254- 
Lightfoot,  Stephen,  27,  109,  1 10,  116. 
Limitation  of  suits,  12. 
Lin,  Capt.  William,  190,  267. 
Lincoln,    13,    23,    24,    28,    29,  59,    70,  91, 

128. 
Lindsay,  Capt.,  126,  133. 
Linga   Chetti,  65,  84,   103,   112,    1 20,   129, 

154,  203. 
Linguist,  71,  112. 
Liquor  shops,  151. 
Lisbon,  213,  251. 
Lisle,  Commodore,    90,  92,98,    106,    III, 

117,  164. 
Lively  (man-of-war),    17,     28,   29,   33,   38, 

41.  59- 
Loake,  Simon,  133,   138. 
London,   17,    102,    108,  135,  151,  228,   229, 

231,  234,  240,  241. 
Longcloth.     See  Piece-goods. 
Louisa,  83. 

Love,  Capt.  Peter,  67,  88,  170. 
Lowe,  Joseph.     Free  merchant,  108. 
Lullin,     Claud      Phillip.     Ensign,       176; 

Second  Lieut.,  244. 
Lynn,  102,  108,  III,  118. 
Lyon,  James,  365. 

M 

Mabbott,  William.     On  Secret  Committee, 

44,  22c,  230. 
Macao,  5,  31,  39,  42,  112,  I35»24i- 


MacDonald,  Capt.  Dugald,  116. 
Mackay,  G.  Alderman,  208. 
Macormick,  James.     Writer,  220. 
Madagascar,  5,  83,  88,  92,    100,    101,    in, 

128,  137,  153,  159,  160,  167,  202. 
Madapollam.     Investment  at  — ,  7,  18,  25, 

27,   28,    148,   215,   256.     Ref.    11,    150, 

239.  See  Northern  factories,  Piece-goods. 
Madapollam  river,  148,  149. 
Madeira  (wine),  6,  13,  24,   30,  44,   46,  47, 

65,    75,  84,  108,  112,  126,  127,  160,  188, 

203,  220,  221,  240. 
Madeiros,  Mr.  de,  183. 
Madeiros,   Mrs.   Antonia   de,    27,    57,    97, 

132,  137,  204,  226,  259. 
Madras — 

Accounts,  etc.,  53,  68,  76,  90,  96,  108, 
123,  137,  195. 

Bonds  and  debts,  53,  54,  57,  61,  69,  72, 
76,  78,  96,  101,  116,  129,  158,  174, 
176,  195,  196. 

Council,  89,  102. 

Fortifications  and  defence.  Fort  St. 
George,  2,  10,  15,  19,  26,  32,  40,  42, 
74,  79,  80,  86,  102,  106,  in,  134,  155, 
169,  175,  182,  190,  194,  203,  204,  224, 
242,  258  ;  Black  Town,  26,  40,  95,  155, 
194,  203,  224. 

French  occupation  of  — ,  33,  34,  35,  36, 
45,  46,  52,  54,  130 ;  restoration  of — , 
74,79,80,82,87,  99,  102,  131,  141, 
156,  163,  164,  165,  169,  204. 

Garden  House,  204. 

Gunpowder  factory,  10,  258. 

Hospital,  11,  12,  16,  164,  170,  204,  258. 

Island  ground,  204. 

Investment,  7,  13,  15,  18,  23,  24,  28,  29, 
30.  35.  38.  74,  7&,  89,  93,  113,  120, 
203,  215,  242,  257. 

Magazine  at  — ,  168. 

Plan  of  — ,  41,  86. 

Rent  remitted,  175,  214,  224. 

Residence  for  strangers,  258. 

Revenues,  3,  23,  125,  182,  201,  211  ; 
farms,  115,  122,  242,  258;  arrack, 
151  ;  banksall,  26  ;  betel  and  tobacco, 
15,  26,  125,  151  ;  customs,  II,  23,  32, 
39,  90,  122,  216,  258;  duties  remit- 
ted, 130 ;  fishing,  26;  gardens,  258; 
grain  duties,  115  ;  measuring,  etc.,  26, 
125,  151  ;  mint,  11  ;  paddy-fields,  95, 
258  ;  pagodas,  216  ;  Poonamallee,  122, 
243  ;  salt-pans,  95,  258  ;  St.  Thome, 
I21  ;  town  brokerage,  26,  125  ; 
villages,  11. 

Sea  encroachment,  182. 

Seat  of  the  presidency,  2,  80,  89,  121, 
132,  134,  138,  153,  156,  167. 

Shipping,  13,  29. 

Town-hall,  208. 

Trade,  25,  52,  81,  134. 
Madras,  Governor  of  — 

As  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Com- 
pany's Coast  Army,  251  ;  service  of 
plate   for  — ,   260  ;    cash  with  — ,    56. 

Morse,  Nicholas,  24,  32. 

Prince,  Richard,  115. 


INDEX 


28  i 


Madras,  Governor  of — cont. 

Saunders,  Thomas.  Services  appreciat- 
ed, 227,  253  ;  goes  to  Europe,  253. 
Ref.  255. 

Pigot,  George.     Assumes  charge,  258. 
Madras,  Poligar  of — ,  86,  94,  130. 
Madura,  254. 
Magault,  253. 
Mahalinga  Krishna,  6. 
Mahe,  12,  21,  27,  28,  35,  50,  98,  253. 
Mahfuz  Khan  (Nawab's  brother),    25,  36, 

37,  247,  248. 
Mainwaring,  Capt.  Roger,  181,  246. 
Malabar,  56,  64,  80,  I02,  160,  162. 
Malabars,  151. 
Malacca,  19,  92  ; — Straits,   5,   27,   72,  92, 

98,  183. 
Malaram,  1 50. 
Malay  interpreter,  101. 
Malays,  12. 

Malraja  (Poligar  of  Madras),  86,  94. 
Mandeville,  George  (supercargo),  71. 
Manilla,    2,  II,    20,    24,    27,    88,   98,    171, 

258. 
Manimangalam,  243. 

Manoji  (Tanjore  General),  166,  [172],  247. 
Mansell,  James.     Writer,  3. 
Mansell,   Thomas.      Writer,   131  :    Judge 

Advocate,  217. 
Mansell,  Mrs.,  1 16,  164. 
Marathas.     In  the  Carnatic,  2,  7,  9,  17,  18, 

23,  24,   25,  26,  29,  39,  49,  113,  115,  "9. 

129,  147,   14S,   150,   173,  175,    179,    180, 

182,    2j2  ;  in  the   North,    139,  180,  181, 

210,  248.     See  Morari  Rao,  Mysore. 
Mare,  John  de.     Lieut.,  1 16,  182. 
Margas,  205. 
Mariette,  Peter,  265. 
Mariners,  89,  206. 
Marlborough,  267, 
Marmalong,  150. 
Marriage  returns,  56. 
Martin,  Capt.  William,  229. 
Martin's  battery,  Vizagapatam,  242. 
Mascareign,  12. 
Maskelyne,  Edmund.     Writer,  14,  26,*  40  ; 

ensign,  49,   52,   95,  140  ;    Capt. -Lieut., 

Maskelyne,  Margaret,  265. 

Mason,  Capt.,  126,  133. 

Massey,  Edmund,  265. 

Master  Carpenter,  156. 

Masulipatam,  8,  10,  18,  53,  1 1 7,   It8,   llq, 

123,    124,    125,    139,    140,  145,  147,  154, 

I72,  174,  176,  179,  237,  238,  239  ;  to  be 

restored  to  the   Moors,   233,   235,   236. 

See  Piece-goods. 
Mathematical  instruments,  15.  26,  58. 
Matthews,  Commodore,  21. 
Matthews,  William,  of  Artillery,  206. 
Maul,  Charles.     Surgeon,  186. 
Mauritius,  90,  147. 
Mayor.     Election  of  — ,  198,  217. 
Mayor's  Court  at  Madras — 

Accountant-General  for  — ,   3,   20,    198, 
I99,  217. 

Aldermen,  198,  217,  246. 

Allowance  to  --,  26,  217. 

36 


Mayor's  Court  at  Madras — cont. 

Appeals,  198,  218,  246. 

Bonds,  32, 

Charter,  62. 

Court  fees,  198. 

Decision  of  former  courts,  246. 

Powers  ceased  on  capture  of  Madras,  159, 
197. 

Register,  199. 

Rules  of  Practice,  19S,  109. 

Small  Causes,  200. 

Suitor's  money,  3,  198,  19,  200. 

Ref.  12,  15,  78. 
Mayotta,  171. 

McLean,  Hugh  (overseer),  86. 
M'Facbern,  Capt.     At  Tavoy,  210. 
Medicines,  3,  24,  124,  176,  221. 
Medway,  5,  28,  29,  33,  37,  41,  47,  51,  68. 
Medway's  Prize,  29,  41,  59,  60,  69. 
Melong,  16  >. 

Melotte,  Samuel,     Ensign,  183,  206. 
Mergui,  27,  29. 
Mermaid,  17,  20,  34. 
Merriman,  Lieut.,  91,  95. 
Mersen,     Galenus      Governor     of     Nega 

patam.  35,  50. 
Mesgnien,  V    217. 
Meyers,  John  Henry.     Ensign,  222,  244, 

267. 
Mihell,  Capt.   Kest.  229. 
Military — 

Artillery,  50,  57,  58,  73,  8.S,  95,  106,   123, 

T  33,    142,   159,   170,    187,   I90,  191,   205. 

Barra-ks,  161,  168. 

Batta,  253. 

Bengal,  50,  196,  216,  243. 

Bombay,  45,  122,  243. 

Cavalry,  52,  53,  67,  76,   89,  95,  105,  122, 

U4,  150,  163,  174,  176,  180. 
Clothing,  44,  71,  89,  152,  217,  243. 
Discipline,  232. 
Lascars,  1,100,  123,  189. 
MarCal  law,  50,  76. 
Officers,  II,  40,  44,  45,  49,   50,  105,  I42, 

197,  216 
Off-reckonings,  bg. 
Pathans,  52,  76. 
Paymaster,  152. 
Peons,  40,  67,  96,  123. 
Promotions,  184. 
Recruiting,  etc.,  2,  5,   10,  27,  40,  42,  49, 

50,  72,  73,  75,  76.  82,  88,  127,  132,  133, 

137,  158,  169,  180,  181,  184,   185,  loo, 

205,  214,  219,  220,  222,  226,  231,  252, 

266-67. 
Regulations,  67,  71,  88,  105. 
Returns,  50,  56,  83,  105,  245. 
Stores  145.  193.  194- 
Storekeeper,  132. 
Strength,  83,  92,  115,  119,  i2r,  145,  167, 

174,  176,  211. 
Swiss  companies,  158,  160,  r6i,  164,  170, 

176,  179,  180,  185,  190,  196,  197,' 205' 

210,  222,  226,  243. 
Tellicherry  men,  45. 
Topasses,  10,  32,   50,   61,    83,   88,    133. 

187,216. 
Military  Consultations,  155, 


282 


INDEX 


Mill,  James  (Austrian),  128. 

Mints.     At  Cuddalore,  38,   52,  56  ;  Sarkar 

— ,  22  ;  —  weights,  149. 
Mirepoix.     Duke  of—,  226,  252. 
Misenor,  Capt.  Death,  46. 
Mocha,  10,  13,  21,  30,  98,   123,    135,  240, 

241. 
Moghal Emperor,  18,  25,  59,  139, 146,  177, 

211,  213,  218,  236.  248. 
Moinichen,  Lieut.,  183,  206. 
Mole  (Secretary),  112. 1 
Monchanin,  Stephen  Augustus  de.   Ensign, 

183,  245,  259. 
Monopoly  in  provisions,  127. 
Monson,  William,  36,    39,    55,    105,   136, 

147,  195,  2°7- 
Moore,  John.     Carpenter,  gb,  175,  243. 
Moorees.     See  Piece-goods. 
Moors,  117,  141,  151,  188. 
Montfort,  30,  79,  201,  240,  265,  267. 
Monthly  writers,  136,  245. 
Morari  Rao,  184,  211,  212,  247,  24S,  249, 

255.     See  Marathas. 
Morford,  James.     Writer,  3. 
Morgan,  Capt.  John  de,  49,  62,  63,  67,  78, 

105,  164,  170,  197,  202. 
Morgan,  Ensign  William  de.  Death,  67. 
Morrice,  Lieut.  Sampson,  107,  1S3,  206. 
Morris,  Hugh,  52,  143. 
Morse,  Daniel.     Factor,  164. 
Morse,  Emelia,  265. 
Morse,  Frances,  265. 
Morse,  Jane,  265. 

Morse,  Nicholas.     Exchanged,  50  ;  arrives 
F.S.D.,  50 ;   returns  home,  76,   87,  96, 
116  ;  his  accounts  and  claims,  68,  69,  96, 
131,    163;  170,  196.    Ref.     5,   7.  10,  I2. 
24,  25,  28,  32,  35,  36,  38,  39,  51,  104, 
105,  117,  156,  168,  204,  207,  217,  265. 
Moses,  Samuel,  30,  96,  97. 
Mount,  150. 
Muhammad  Shaw,  20. 
Muhammadan  merchants,  69. 
Muhammadans       The      term     '  natives', 

include  — ,  217. 
Munro,  Andrew.    Surgeon,  1 1,  90,  97,  109, 

no,  Ii6,  137,  208. 
Munro,  Henry.     Death,  143,  206. 
Munro,  James.     Surgeon,  137,208. 
Munro,  Lieut.,  183. 
Munster,  Treaty  of — ,  257. 
Munsur  Ali  Khan,  Vizier,  210. 
Murder,  Act  for  preventing — ,  1 99. 
Muriell,  Francis,  265. 
Muriell,  Lucy,  265. 
Murray,  Capt. -Lieut.,  143,  145,  151. 
Murtaza  Ali  Khan,  139,  249. 
Muslin.     See  Piece-goods. 
Mustapha  Jing.     See  Muzaffar  Jang. 
Mutiny,  197  ;  — Act,  232. 
Muttukumarappa  Chetti,  164. 
Mutyalu,  48,  94,  132. 

Muzaffar  Jang.  Near  Pondichery,  8q, 
appoints  Chunda  Sahib  as  Nawab,  81 ; 
119,  178;  opposes  Nasir  Jang,  83; 
claims  succession,  85  ;  invades  the  Car- 
natic,  85  ;  defeats  Anwar-ud-din  Khan, 
85;  at  Arcot,    85,    119;   reception    at 


Muzaffar  Jang — coni. 

Pondichery,  85 ;  attacks  Udaiyarpalai- 
yam,  93  ;  besieges  Tanjore,  93,  94  ; 
submits  to  Nasir  Jang,  113  ;  proclaimed 
Subahdar,  118;  imprisons  his  brothers, 
118;  enters  Pondichery,  118;  under 
French  influence,  1 18;  demands  sea-ports 
of  the  English,  119  ;  quarrels  with  the 
Nawab  of  Kurnool,  I24  ;  killed,  124  ;  his 
grants  to  the  French,  125,  149  ;  not  the 
lawful  Subahdar,  149.     Ref.  121,  163. 

Mysore,  144,  148,  150,  173,  1 77,  179,  184, 
210,  211,  212,  219,  222,  224,  226,  247, 
248,  249. 


N 


Nagore,  1 18,  235,  238,  239. 

Nalla  Chetti,  164. 

Namat-ullah  Khan,  25. 

Namur,  59,  70. 

Nana  (Sahu's  General),  177,  180,  183,  213. 

Narayana  Chetti,  18. 

Narayanan,  Kuddam,  132,  136,  156. 

Narsapur,  125,  136,  I40. 

Nasir  Jang,  Application  to  —  for  horse,  46, 
48,  76  ;  joins  his  father,  48  ;  orders  his 
officers  to  help  the  English,  52  ;  embassy 
to — ,  61,  114,  115,  118;  helps  the  English 
and  Muhammad  Ali,  73,  85,  146,  178; 
opposes  Muzaffar  Jang,  85  ;  presents  to 
—  94,  104,114,  154;  confines  Muzaffar 
Jung,  113  ;  to  Tiruviti,  113;  to  Valuda- 
vur,  113;  to  Arcot,  113;  obliged  the 
French  to  raise  the  siege  of  Tanjore, 
113  ;  confirmation  of  grants,  115,  117; 
murdered,  118,  119,  124;  his  cause 
espoused,  119,  139.  Ref.  80,  81,  84,  98, 
112,  121,  122,  123,  155,  163. 

Natal  (in  Sumatra),  257. 

Nathan,    Solomon.      Free  merchant,   131, 

151. 

Natives.  As  suitors,  217  ;  the  term  ex- 
plained, 217  ;  —  of  Madras  not  to  be 
troubled  for  debts  for  a  year,  90. 

Naubat.     Privilege  of  — ,  243. 

Naval  officers.     Treatment  of  — ,  4. 

Navigation  researches,  107. 

Negapatam,  11,  33,  34,  98,  138. 

Negapatam.     Governor  of — ,35,  50,  53. 

Negapatam.     Resident  at  — ,  50. 

Negrais,  152,  161,  162,  184,  208,  209,  213, 
218,  223,  240,  242,  255,  257,  260. 

Nelson,  Arthur.     Ensign,  183;  Lieut.,  206. 

Neptune,  10,  41,  46,  47. 

Newcastle.     Duke  of  — ,  3. 

Newman,  Henry,  186,  226. 

News,  from  the  French,  50,  147. 

Newton,  Andrew.     Factor,  164,  169,  244. 

Newton,  Lieut.  Thomas,  222,  259,  267. 

Nicholls,  Charles,  50,  62,  195. 

Nicholls,  Norton.     Free  merchant,  Tj. 

Nicobars,  The,  28,  92. 

Nizam  Ali  Khan,  124,  125,  138. 

Nizam-ul-mulk,  7,  9,  12,  15,  23,  24,  25, 
2q,  32,  49.  56-  59.  84.  125. 

Noke.     Supercargo,  138. 

Nollikins,  John.     Cadet,  222,  267. 


INDEX 


283 


Non-intervention   policy,  234,   235,    237, 

238. 
Norfolk,  42,  102,    108,119,    120,124,    I25> 

227,  240,  252,  253,  265,  267. 
Norris,  Charles  Savage,  11. 
Norris,  Hugh,  3,  137.  151,  206,  20S. 
Norris,  William,  164. 
North,  John,  186,  206,  244. 
Northampton,  4. 
Northern    factories.     Imestment,   2,8,45, 

48,  65,  84,  91,   120,   168,  175,   181,  201, 

203,  223.     See    Vizagapatam,    Ingeram, 

Madapollam. 
Northern  grants.     Question  of  — ,  250. 
Norton,  Capt.  Robert,  19. 
Nost,  Lieut.  Peter,  63,  67,  93,  116. 

0 

Oaths,  198,  199. 

Officers.      Co-operation      among  — ,  142  ; 

mutinous     spirit     among   — ,  142.    See 

Military. 
O'Hara,  Charles.   Assistant  Engineer,  107, 

143.  205. 
Onslow,  128,  240,  267. 
Organ,  147. 
Orissa,  53. 

'  Orlopes,'  55,  231,  240,  256. 
Orme,  Robert.     In  Bengal,  20,  143  ;  goes 

home,  182,  186  ;  returns,    228,  231  ;  on 

Council,   228,    230,    244 ;     Commissary, 

233  ;  Export  Warehouse-keeper,  244. 
Orme,  William.     Writer,  3. 
Orphans  and  orphanage,  26,  61,  72,  133. 
Ostend,  10,  19,  128. 
Oxford,  43,  46,  47,  63,  65,    160.   229,  265, 

266. 


Paccard,  Ensign,  183. 

Packinpr,  1,  13,  77,  225. 

Paddy,  150. 

Page,  John.     Surgeon,  108. 

Palankin.  57,  no,  210,  225. 

Palk,  Robert.  Appointed  chaplain,  87  ; 
to  Europe,  116  ;  his  services,  116,  170  ; 
to  Bombay,  195  ;  commissary  for  peace, 
212,  214;  Paymaster  and  Commissary, 
224,  225,  233,  243  ;  knows  French  and 
Latin,  233  ;  Deputy  at  Sadras,  243  ; 
presented  with  a  diamond  ring,  243  ; 
his  part  in  Tanjore  negotiations,  243, 
247.  Ref.  131,  182,  191,  244,  252. 

Palliser,  Capt.  Hugh,  75. 

Palmer,  John.     Writer,  1 22,  206. 

Palmyra,  Point,  212,  2I4. 

Paris,  3,  222,  226. 

Parker,  Hyde.     Ensign,  16,  80. 

Parkes,  Samuel.    Factor  in  Bengal,  30,  40. 

Pascall,  Edmund.  Ensign,  44,  119,  151, 
266. 

Paschoud,  John  Francis.  Lieut,  of  the 
Artillery,  196. 

Passage-money  ,117. 

Passport,  100. 

Patchak.     Surat  — ,  84. 

Pathans.     See  Military. 

37 


Patterson,  George.     Ensign,  158;  Lieut., 

183. 
Pattison,  Ensign  George,  167,  266. 
Pawlett,  Capt.,  69 
Paymaster  of  works,  58. 
Peace  [of  Aix-la-chapclle  ,  7;,  90. 
Peace  Conference  at  Sadras,  212,  214. 
Pearl,  36,  41,  47,  51,  59. 
Pearls,  127,  221. 

Pegu,  10,  19,  25,  150,  162,  209,  258;  King 
of  — ,  184,  209,  213,  242,    257  ;  —  river, 
184. 
Pdl/iaf/1,64,  65,  71,  79,  126,  133,  185. 
Pelham,  W'aldegrave,  220,  259. 
Pembroke,  59,  70. 
Pennar,  The,  37,  184. 
Pensions,  66,   67,    77,  95,    105,    1 16,    164, 

216. 
Peons.     See  Military,  Poligars. 
Pepper,  6,  12,   42,    59,  61,    62,    74,  80,  83, 
84,  91,  98,  IOI,  120,  124,  125,  126,   152, 
174, 187,  221,  240. 
Pepper,  Lieut.,  Daniel.     Death,  1S6-87. 
Perambur,  87. 

Percival,  John.     Writer,  161,  164,  206. 
Percival,  William,  3.  11,  50,  122,  158,  169, 
206,  207,  208,    217,  218,    228,   230,  233, 
244. 
Permission  money,  170,  208. 
Pero,  Lieut.,  91,  95,  206. 
Persaine,  200,  213,  242,  257. 
Persia,  1,  10,  69,  118,  119,  137,  147. 
Persian  language,  195. 
Persons  going  to  India,  164,  265. 
Petch,  William,  88,  123. 
Peyton,    Capt.,  4,  5,  33,  34,    51,    67,    104, 

106,  no. 
Piece-goods.     Investment,  262-263. 
Allejars,  262-63. 
Baftas,  2,  9,  181. 
Beteellas,  55,  73,  262-63. 
Calicoes,  2,  13,  42,55- 
Callavva  pores,  262-63. 
Cambays,  loo. 
Cambric,  262-63. 

Chintz,  9,  28,  53,  203,  215,  262-63. 
Dimities,  262-63. 
Fine  goods,  18,  100,  175,  203. 
Ginghams,  262-63. 
Izarees,  215,  262-63. 
Lampasses,  262-63. 

Longcloth,   8,     13,    136.     189,     262-63  ; 
Chennappanayakanpalaiyam,    8  ;  fine, 
7  ;  Salem  — ,  7;  Shiyali  — ,  141. 
Madapollam,  25. 
Masulipatam  dyed  goods,  53. 
Moorees,  2,  262-63. 
Muslins,  74,  100. 
Romals,  262-63. 
Salempores,    7,  8,    13,    18,  25,    136,  189, 

262-63. 
Sannoes,  9 
Sarrasses,  262-63. 
Sastracundies,  262-63. 
Sicashes,  262-63. 
Succatums,  93,  100,  262-63. 
See    also     sub-head    Investment    under 
Madras,  Fort  St.  David,  Salem,  etc. 


284 


INDEX 


Pigot,  George.  On  council,  108,  157,  244  ; 
prisoner,  109  ;  returns,  109  ;  Commissary 
of  accounts,  137;  to  Vizagapatam,  153, 
169;  Deputy  Governor  at  F.S.D.,  228, 
230.  Ref.  151.  See  Madras,  Governor 
of—. 
Pigou,  Lieut.    Benjamin,  67,  151,  170,245, 

247. 
Pipe  of  wine,  contains  115  gallons,  240. 
Pirates.      Power  to  try  — ,  208. 
Pitch,  47. 

Pitt,  George  Morton,  156. 
Pitt,  Thomas,  9,  10. 
Pocock,  Capt.  George,  229. 
Polier,  Capt.,  185,  206,  243,  247. 
Poligars.     Dues,  254  ;  fees,  86  ;  peons,  20  ; 

ravages,  9. 
Political  Consultations,  1 5 5. 
Polur,  248. 

Pondichery,   12,    18,  19,  33,  34,  35-  36>  40, 
41,  45,  51,  60,  61,  62,  63,  66,  94,  102,  105, 
113,  150,  153,  235. 
Ponnappa  Chetti,  6. 
Poona,  210. 

Poonamallee,  11,  113,   114,  115,   121,  142, 
145,   150,   151,   169,   175,  204,  214,   234, 
235>   237,    243.     ^ee  Madras,    Fort   St. 
David  — Revenues. 
Portfield,  101,  112,  221,  265,  267. 
Porto  Bello,  35,  52,  54,  59,  60,  62,  64,  65, 
69,  96,  102,  152,   185,  187,  240,  241,  244, 
255,  266. 
Porto  Novo,  12,  27,  49,  50,  65,   70,  76,  81, 

258. 
Portsmouth,  55. 

Portuguese,    31,    42,    69,  100; — Church  at 
Madras,    141,  159,   168,  194,    204;  ship- 
ping, 138,  213. 
Poverio,  Clemente.      Captain  of  the  topas- 

ses,  216. 
Powell,  Charles,  265. 

Powney,  Henry.  Declines  Company's 
service,  87  ;  on  Council,  108,  157,  228, 
230  ;  to  examine  F.S.D.  accounts,  123  ; 
on  Committee  of  Treasury,  169$  Import 
Warehousekeeper,  244.  Ref.  j'14,  151, 
207  (?). 
Presents,  2,  15,  19,  32,  40,  51,  64,67,  69,  71, 
80,  87,  94,  104,  114,  154,  163,  174,  195, 
2io,  243. 
Presidency    head -quarters     See   Madras  — 

Seat  of  the  Presidency. 
President,  to  have  a  running  cash  of  20,000 

Pags.,  56. 
Preston,   Achilles,    1 16,   134,  143,  183,  205, 

206. 
Preston,  28,  29,  33,  41,  51,  59,  68. 
Prevost  f  Provost],  Ensign  John  Louis,  169, 

217,  266. 
Prince,    Richard.     In    Council,    61,     108  ; 
Paymaster,    62 ;      Deputy    Governor    of 
Madras,  89,   95,    102,  1 15  ;  to    examine 
Church  stocks,  90  ;  his  action  respecting 
Shahji,  etc.,  129,  130  ;   resigns  and  goes 
home,  157,  169. 
Prince  George,  186,  187,  201,  202,  240. 
Prince  of  Wales,  43,  160,  168,  266. 
Prince  William,  52,  93. 


Princess  Amelia,  38,  41,  47,  60,  77. 
Princess   Augusta,   23,  45,  46,   47,  60,  64, 

70. 
Princess  Mary,   14,  16,  33,  34,  36,  41,  46, 

47,  5i»  59,77- 

Princess  of  Wales,  46,  47. 

Prisoners.     Restoration    of  — ,     234,    236, 
237,  239. 

Private  Committee,  dissolved,  213. 

Private  trade,  14,  31,  128,  154,  162,  186, 
187,  202,  208,  218,  231,  247. 

Prizes,  2,  10,  13,  21,  30,  69.  - 

Prize-money,  103. 

Prone,  253. 

Protector,  160,  162,  167. 

Protestants,  99,  156. 

Provost,  Ensign,  John  Louis.     See  Provest. 

Prussia,  128,  227. 

Pudupauk,  11. 

Pulicat,  34,'  35,  36,  50,  68,69,  87,  171,  219. 

Pullum  Kutti  Chetti,  246. 

Punch  house,  243. 

Pybus,  John.  In  the  Secretary's  office,  36  ; 
monthly  writer,  40  ;  re-entertained,  66  ; 
Sub-Secretary,  66  ;  Military  Storekeeper 
87,  132,  136  ;  Resident  at  Devikottai, 
169;  ill,  182  ;  on  Council,  205,  206  ;  to 
the  West  Coast,  206,  207,  244,  260. 

Pye,  William.     Volunteer,  191. 

Pyne,  George      Writer,  191,  205, 


Quakers,  198. 

Quedda,  126,  133,  134,  138,  188. 

Queen  of  Hungary,  27. 

Quick  stock,  3,  15,  32,  56,  77,  84,  101,  225. 


Raillard,  Jean  Jaques.  Cadet,  267. 
Rains,  28,  83,  95,  120,  121,  146,  258. 
Kaitt,  Thomas.  Free  merchant,  13. 
Rajahmunclry,    7,  214,  219.     Nawab  of  — 

See  Jaffar  Ali  Khan. 
Ramadas  Pantulu  (Diwan),  171. 
Ratnsunkar,  19. 
Read  [Reade  ?],  William.     Writer,  30,  49  ; 

insane,  137. 
Records,  in  Madras,  40. 
Recruitment.     See  Military. 
Red  Sea,  24. 
Redwood,  12,  22,  29,  47,  59,  61,  62,  64,  74, 

84,  91,  125,  128,  147,  152,  187,  189,  193, 

202,  208,  215,  22I,  240. 
Rene,  Father.     Suspected,  82. 
Repington,  James.     Lieut,  of  Cavalry,  167, 

183,  265. 
Residents.     Recalled,  87;  list  of—,  132. 
Restoration,  29,  92. 
Revell,    Lieut.     Robert.       Quartermaster, 

206.    * 
Revenues.     See   Madras,   Fort  St.    David, 

etc. 
Rewards.     See  Presents. 
Rhoda,  59,  70,  79,  160. 
Rice,  6,  46,  65,  71,  122,  123,  143,  149,  150, 

175,  185,  187,  201,  210,  254,  255,  256. 


INDEX 


285 


Richards,  Capt.  William,  143,  145,  151, 
229. 

Rider,  Arthur.     Factor,  3. 

Rider,  Rev.  Richard.  Joint  Chaplain  at 
Madras,  41  ;  death,  66.     Ret'.  49,  54. 

Ridge,  Capt.  John,  190,  205,  267. 

Ringer,  John.     Death,  143. 

Robins,  Benjamin.  Engineer-Geneial, 
102,  104,  106;  arrives,  III,  1 16;  surveys 
Madras  works,  HI  ;  reports  on  the 
fortifications,  121,  130,  132,  133  ;  to 
Bengal,  123,  124,  136  ;  reports  on  the 
wreck  of  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  133  ; 
to  instruct  in  gunpowder-making,  133; 
considers  Madras  best  suited  as  head- 
quarters, 134  ;  death,  142,  167.  Kef. 
107,  108,  112,  115,  130,  138,  143,  150, 
153.  155.  I56-  »59.  l6l»  l63-  165,  170, 
190,  194,  203,  204,  205. 

Rochelle,  147. 

Romals.     See  Piece-goods. 

Roman  Catholics.  Disabilities,  98,  99, 
131,  14I,  165,  169,  196  ;  their  churches 
not  to  be  tolerated,  56,  61,  82,  101,  159, 
165,  176. 

'  Roman  ways  ',  95. 

Rose,  John  de.      A  German,  242. 

Rosewell.    Agent  Victualler,  51". 

Ross,  Andrew.     Alderman,  208,  217,  265. 

Rouchead.     Ensign,  151. 

Rous,  Frances,  265. 

Rous,  Miss.     Goes  home,  116. 

Royal  Duke,  55,  59,  79. 

Royal  Galley,  213. 

Royal  George,  23,59,  70,79,  82,  91,93. 
129. 

Royal  Guardian,  201. 

Ruby,  59,90,  92,  III,  117,  137. 

Rumbold,  Thomas.  Writer,  164,  169; 
Ensign,  206. 

Rumbold,  Williams.     Ensign,  206. 

Russell,  Claud.  Writer,  161,  164,  169; 
Sub-Secretary,  205  ;  Sheriff  and  Coroner, 
260. 

Russian  iron.     See  Iron. 


Saadat-ul-lah  Khan,  24. 

Sadras,  219,  243;    Conference  at — ,  214, 

[249],  250  ;  painting  of  cloth  at  — ,  2. 
Safdar  Ali  Khan,  9. 

Sailors  in  country  ships.     List  of  — ,  77. 
Sta.  Catarinha,  69. 
St.  Eustacia,  57. 
St.  Francis,  59,  70. 
St.  George,  220,  221,  240,  267. 
St.  Geran,  12. 

St.  Helena,  23,  35,  71,  161,  219,  221. 
St.  Joseph,  12. 
St.  Louis,  36. 
St.  Mary's  Church,  147,  195.     See  Church 

Stock. 
'  St.  Mary's  Stepney',  123. 
St.  Paul,  Peter,  62,  81,  87,   131,  136,  151, 

244. 
[St.  Thomas']  Mount,  40,  179. 


St.  Thome,  10,  19,  34,  46,  81,  85,  86,  94 
115,  117,  130,  141,  142,  I45,  148,  150 
151,  169,  175,  194,  208,  216.  See 
Madras,  Fort  St.  David  —  Revenues. 

Saiyid  Lashkar  Khan  (Nawab's  partisan), 
210,  218. 

Saiyid  Muhammad  Khan,  138. 

Salabat  Jang.  Makes  peace  with  the  Mara- 
thas,  139.  171  ;  his  letters,  144,  146,  153, 
171,  177  ;  orders  destruction  of  lngeram 
and  Madapollarn,  148  ;  present  to  — , 
150;  to  Aurungabad,  171,  180,  210 ; 
to  Golconda,  171  ;  empowers  Dupleix  to 
make  peace,  173  ;  opposes  Gha/i-ud-din, 
177;  supports  Chunda  Sahib,  178; 
confirms  Muhammad  Ali,  178  ;  his 
mother  poisons  Gha/.i-ud-din,  180,  183  ; 
makes  peace  with  Nana,  1S0,  183  ; 
imprisons  his  brother,  210 ;  distressed 
for  money,  213,  219;  to  the  Carnatic, 
218,  248,  255.     Ref.  138,  215,  250. 

Sale  by  outcry,  103,  104,  112,  154,  192, 
223,  228. 

Salem.  Investment  at  — ,  143,  149,  203, 
212,  252. 

Salempores.     See  Piece-goods. 

Salisbury,  14,  229,  246,  250,  254,  260. 

Salomons,  Moses.      Free  merchant,  13,  30. 

Salomons,  Solomon,  196. 

Salt,  22,  28,  77,  187 

Saltpetre,  13,  14,  22,  29,  42,  62,  64,  71,  74, 
93,  102,  108,  112,  125,  126,  147,  149,  153, 

154,     175,    I85,    187,    189,    208,    221,    241, 

255- 

Salutes.  To  Adlercron,  231  ;  to  Naval 
officers,  229. 

Sampati  Rao.     Anwar-ud  din's  Diwan,  94. 

Samson,  Mathew.     Ensign,  67. 

Samson,  Samuel.      Fnsign,  67. 

Sandalwood,  71,  84. 

Sandwich,  79. 

Sannoes.     See  Piece-goods. 

Saravana  Chetti,  203. 

Sarrashes.     See  Piece-goods. 

Sastracundies.     See  Piece-goods. 

Saudet  Bunder.     Razed,  180. 

Saunders,  Charles.      factor,  164. 

Saunders,  Thomas.  On  Council,  56 ; 
Chief  of  Vizagapatam,  62.  Ref.  15,25 
48.     See  Madras,  Governor  of  — . 

Saunderson,  Capt.,  206,  211. 

Savage,  John.     Death,  66. 

Savage,  Thomas,  11,  36,  50,  88. 

Saw,  Oswald,  69. 

Scales  and  weights,  189,  202. 

Scarborough,  23,  55,  59,  126,  135,  143,  192, 
201,  266. 

Schaub,  Capt.  John  Henry,  160,  161,  169, 
r8o,  196,  217,  243,  266. 

Schaub,  Sir  Luke,  158. 

Schonamille,  Mine,  10,  19,  27,  29. 

Sch-vartz,  Jean  George.     Cadet,  267. 

Scott,  Lieut. -Col.  Caroline  Frederic. 
Engineer-General,  189,  190 ;  to  survey 
Vizagapatam,  189 ;  his  duties,  powers 
and  pay,  189,  190 ;  to  survey  artillery 
stores,  191  ;  called  from  Bengal,  216, 
227  ;  011  Council,  230 ;  Commissary  for 


286 


INDEX 


provisional  treaty,  233  ;  declines  the 
command  of  the  army,  243  ;  death,  243, 
245  ;  his  charges  against  Boddam,  258, 
259.     Ref.  197,  203,  204,  205,  224. 

Scottney,  Bryan.     Ensign,  244. 

Scrimsour,  Capt.  John,  63,  67,  186. 

Sea  Horse,  201. 

Seals,  27. 

Seaton,  John.     Lieut,  of  Artillery,  170. 

Sebastian,  Father,  216. 

Secret  article  in  the  treaty,  239. 

Secret  Committee,  29,  44,  74,  126,  153, 
188,  220,  221. 

Security.  From  persons  going  to  India, 
etc.,  164. 

Select  committee.     Constituted,  230. 

Selfe,  Israel.     Carpenter,  108. 

Sellon,  Jasper,  158. 

Seven  Maganams,  243. 

Severini,  Padre,  15,  16,  26,  61,  78,  82,  130, 
133,  137,  204,  216,  246. 

Severn,  45,  75,  77,  79,  89,  112,  119,  120, 
124. 

Shaftesbury,  135. 

Shahji,  ex-King  of  Tanjore.  At  Cudda- 
lore,  94,  129. 

Shaw,  Lieut,  (of  Bengal  Artillery),  186. 

Shawmier,  Sultan,  132,  156,  246. 

Sheafe,  John,  32. 

Shears,  191. 

Sheemess,  75,  79. 

Sheriff,  159,  198. 

Shipping,  126,  160,  188,  219,  221 ;  ballast, 
69;     bills     of     lading,     1,     126,     128 
Captain's    duties,    31  ;1  their  trial,     93 
clandestine  lading,     1  ;    coast,  75,    108 
153,    154,    186;  country,  1,  6,  77,  153 
demurrage,  74,   83  ;   freights,   31  ;  mani 
fests,   174;  kintledge,  74  ;  lading,    115 
lascars,    5  ;    overland  route,   23  ;  provi- 
sions, 127  ;  short  deliveries,  14  ;  soldiers 
on  — ,  5,  16,  103  ;  theft,  2,  8,  187.     See 
Private  trade,  Prizes. 

Shroffs,  2,  11,  22,  24,  52. 

Sicashes.     See  Piece-goods. 

Signals,  74. 

Silk,  49. 

Silver,  1,  4,  6,  13,  16,  18,  24,  30,  38,  55,  71, 
127,  154,  167,  221  ;  private,  189,  264  ; 
for  the  French,  12  ;  to  be  sold  to  the 
Nawab  for  cash,  31  ;  cheapness  of  — , 
112,  135,  165;  price  current,  168,  175. 

Simpson,  Charles.     Writer,  127,  136,  208. 

Singlo  tea.     See  Tea. 

Sirpi.     Nawab  of  — ,  124. 

Slaves,  100,  104,  112,  128,  135,  153,  159. 
160, 174,  188,  202,  223. 

Sloper,  Robert.  Factor,  78;  Sub-Account- 
ant, 89 ;  Searcher  at  Cuddalore,  90. 
Ref.  196. 

Small-pox,  in  Sumatra,  83. 

Smith,  [Joseph].     Engineer,  10,  II,  19,  39. 

Smith,  Charles.     Writer,  191,  205,  218. 

Smith,  Elizabeth,  66. 

Smith,  John.  Alderman,  208  ;  on  Council, 
228  ;    maliciously     charged  fraud,    243  ; 


Paymaster,   244  ;   estate,  260.     Ref.  89, 

161,  169. 
Smith,    John     Lewin.       Factor,     164 ;    at 

Vizagapatam,  182,  244. 
Smith,  Joseph.     Capt.,  32,  176,  183,  211, 

244. 
Smith,  Mary,  265. 
Smith,  Samuel.     Ensign,  49. 
Smith,  Stephen.     Cadet,  232,  267. 
Smith,  Mrs.,  disallowed  pension,  105. 
Smuggling,  15,  19,  26,  162,  169. 
Society    for  Promoting  Christian    Knowl- 
edge, 16,  99,  165,  226. 
Sollikoffer,  Jean  Henri,  267. 
Solomon,  265. 
Solomons,  Joseph,  137. 
Somerset,  70,  71,  79. 
Sommers,  Joseph.    Writer,    161,  164,  169. 

Ensign,  183  ;  Lieut.,  206. 
Southby,  Lieut.     William   Henry,    n,   63, 

88,  89,  96. 
Spain,  20,  29  ;  —  shipping,  5,  31. 
Spanish  Isles,  257. 
Spars,  145. 

Spears,  James.     Lieut,  176;  Capt.  244. 
Speck,  John  William,  89,  95. 
Speke,  Capt.   Henry,  in,  137,    167,     229, 

250. 

Srirangam,  140,  166,  214,  248,  249. 
Stacey,  Borlace,  195. 
Stafford,  1,  43,  240. 

Standing  Orders,  164,  170,  195,  225,  245. 
Starke,  John.     Writer,  30,  66,  114. 
Starke,  Richard,  11,66,89,  IQ8>  I22>    I23, 
151,  157,  158,  169,  170,  195,  213,  228. 

Staveley,  Samuel.    Chaplain,  161,  164,  170. 

Steel,  193. 

Steward,  Capt.     Francis,  3,  31. 

Storm,  34,  70,  84,  109,  128,  l68,  180,   181, 

257- 
Stnr.tton,  George.    Writer,  127,  136. 
Stratton,  John,  9,  11,    15,    16,    26,    36,  40, 

207,  246. 

Stuart,  Allen.     Ensign,  67. 

Stuart,  James.     Ensign,  222. 

Stubbs,  Edward.     Ensign,  116. 

Succatums.     See  Piece-goods. 

Success,  20,  183. 

Suffolk,  267. 

Sugar,  I,   14,  43,  202. 

Sultan  David,  20,  226. 

Sumatra,  5,  6,  12,  20,  27,  30,  34,  50,  53, 
73,  90,  106,  137,  143,  153,  164,  171, 
176,  181,  183,  187,  207,  217,  219,  226, 
246,  260.     See  West  Coast. 

Sumner,  Capt.,  54. 

Sunda  Straits,  18. 

Sunku  Rama,  32,-  99,  257. 

Sunku  Veakatachalam,  216. 

Sural,  72,  84,  152,  176,  213. 

Surgeons.     Medicines      for — ,  3;     head 

money  to  — ,  160;  — to  attend  hospitals 

regularly,  164. 
Suspension  of  arms,  242,  249. 
Sutherland,  James,  265. 


INDEX 


287 


Swallow,  52,  59,  70,  90,  92,  100,  101,  ill, 
112,  113,  118,  120,  123,  135,  137,  138, 
143,  147,  152,153,  160,  167,  175,  188, 
202. 

Swift,  5,  45,  62,  77- 

Swinfen  [Swynfen],  Rev.  George.  Chap- 
lain, 78,  89,  122,  123,  131,  195. 

Swiss  company.     See  Military. 

Symmonds,  Lieut.,  183,  206. 

Syren,  70,  90,  92,  201,  240. 

Syrian,  184,  209,  218. 

Syrian  river,  257. 


Tabby,  Lieut.  John,  222,  267. 

Tabby,  William  James.     Cadet,  222,  267. 

Tabry,  John,  267. 

Taels,  152. 

Talbot,  Robert.     Ensign,  96. 

Tambi  Chetti,  6,  24. 

Tanjore,,  20,  93,94,  113,  140,  203,  235, 
237,  23S,  243. 

Tanjore,  King  of  — .  To  defray  Devi- 
kottai  expenses,  86,  94,  121  ;  allowance 
to  the  pretended  — ,  141  ;  is  neutral, 
144  ;  ready  to  join  Muhammad  Ali,  148, 
150;  grants  Devikottai,  155;  to  accede 
to  the  provisional  treaty,  234,  238  ; 
makes  peace  with  Morari  Rao,  248  ; 
fears  Mysore,  249.     Ref.  119,   I29,   130, 

173,  247,  255. 
Tappy,  8. 

Tar,  18,  47. 

Tartar,  64,  65,  70,  71,  90,  92,  137. 

Tatham,  Samuel.     Factor,  164,  176,  208. 

Tavistock,  75,  84. 

Tavoy,  King  of  —  ,  210,  257. 

Taxes,  194,  204,  216,  242,  243. 

Taylor,  F.  Appointed  to  Court  of  Requests, 

208. 
Taylor,  James.    Free  merchant,  133. 
Taylor,  John.     Surgeon,  165. 
Taylor,  Ralph.     Mariner,  131,  136. 
Taylor,  Thomas,  184,  218,  224. 
Taylor,  Capt.,  109,  112,  242. 
Tea,  14,  39,  43,  103,  149;  Bohea  — ,  1,  16, 

42,231  ;  Singlo  —  ,  231. 
Telisinga  Chetti,  164. 
Tellicherry,  6,  12,  62,  69,    147,    152,    167, 

174,  176. 
Tenasserim,  224. 
Tent,  as  present,  94. 
Tevenapatam,  138. 
Thefts.    See  Shipping-. 

Thesaurus  Linguarum  Orientalium,  217. 
Tidcombe,  William.     Free  merchant,  131. 
Tiger,  233,  250,  253,  254. 
Timber,  18,  47,  60,  64,  70,    112,    156,    187, 

201,  202,  209,  241. 
Tin,  84,  210. 

Tinnevelly.     Poligars  of — ,  254. 
Tirukkattuppalli,  247. 
Tirumangalam,  18. 
Tirupasur,  151. 
Tiruvendipuram,    114,    115,  121,   139,    145. 

See  Fort  St.  David— Revenues. 


I    Tiruviti,  1 1 4,  1 39,  142,  1 78,  1 79,  180,    184, 
206,  211. 

Tiruvottiyur,  87. 
J    Todd,  Robert.      Mariner,  206. 

Topasses.     See  Military. 
1    Tornery,  Capt.  Lewis.      Estate,  1 53. 

Tournery's  battery  ;it  Vizagapatam,  242. 

Trading  guns,  231,  256. 

Tranquebar,  36,  37,  39,  67,68,  79,  87,  13S, 

143- 

Translations,  of  farmans,  125. 

Treaty.  Definitive  —  in  Europe,  220,  222, 
226,  227,  230,  232,  233,  234-39: 
provisional  — ,  233,  249,  252,  253,  254  ;  — 
between  Mahe  and  Tellicherry,  12. 

Trenwith,  John,  3,  20,  27,  52,  146,  208. 

Tribolet,  Francis  Lewis,  267. 

Trichinopoly.  Key  of  Arcot  province,  237  ; 
security  for  the  Nawab's  debt,  255  ; 
tribute  from  —  poligars,  253.  Ref.  7,  9, 
12,24,85,93,  113,  119,  140,  144,  146, 
148,166,  172,  177,  179,  I97,  211,  219. 
226,  247,  248,  249,  254. 

Trincomalee,  33,  50,  51. 

Triton,  240,  266,  267. 

Trotter,  Robert.    Free  merchant,  133. 

True  Briton,  52,  62,  64,  105,  109,  220,  24O, 
267. 

Trusler.     Ensign,     122-123  ;    Lieut.,  183, 

2C6. 

Try  a  l,  84,  IC9,  1 12. 

Tullie,  Timothy,  II,  77,  15S,  164. 

Turing,  Robert.    Surgeon,  66,  116,  137. 

Turmeric,  74,  128. 

Turnbull,  Lieut.  John,  116. 

Turner,  Charles.     Writer,  30,  40[?],     137, 

208,  244. 
Turner,  John  Worthington,  265. 
Turner,  Richard.     Writer,  30,  Il6,  195. 
Turtle,  209. 
Tutenague,  I,  14,  43. 
Twiss,  James.     Free  merchant,  13. 
Tygrts,  1. 

U 

Udaiyarpalaiyam,  19,  93. 

Unlicensed  goods,  to  be  confiscated,  162. 

Unlicensed  persons,  131,  137. 

Uppada,  9. 

Uppu  Raja,  242,  257. 

Uttatur,  172,  177. 


Valikondapuram,  139,  172,  177. 

Valudavur,  234,  235,  238. 

Vandalur,  172. 

Vansittart,  Henry,  30,   40,    137,   208,   214, 

217,  231,  233,  244,  252. 
Vareilles,  Capt.  John  Francis,  138. 
Vasserot,  Lieut.   David  Baron  de,  245. 
Vellaroy,    Baron    de.      Governor    of    St. 

Thome,  141. 
Velvet,  161,  174. 

Venkatarama  Chetti,  Gandavidi,  164. 
Venkatarama  Chetti,  Sunku,  32,  164. 
Venkataraman,  48. 


2.88 


I  NDEX 


Vepery.     See  Church  at  — . 

Vernaculars.     Study  of — ,  131. 

Vienna,  217. 

Vigilant,  59,  9°.  92>  Il7,  I37- 

Vijayaram  Raz,  150,  182,  2I9,  248. 

Vikravandi,  attacked,  178. 

Villiyanallur,  81,  234,  235,  238. 

Villupuram,  178,  179. 

Vincent,  Capt.,  205. 

Visme,  Benjamin  de,  265. 

Vizagapatam- 

Accounts,  96. 

Chief  of  — ,  9,  II,  15,  109,  143. 

Defence  and  fortifications,  10,  19,  106, 
150,  190,  204,  7.05,  242. 

Investment,  7,  18,  22,  24,  25,  28,  36,  37, 
38,  64,  79,  92,  93,  113,  136,  143,  181, 
189,  215,  256. 

Remittances  to  — ,  120,  124,  187. 

Revenues,  23. 

Ref.  168.     See  Northern  Factories. 
Vizier,  218. 
Volunteers,  205. 
Von  Francken,  41. 
Vouga,  Jean  Jaques.     Cadet,  267. 
Vriddhachalam,  139,  211. 


W 


Wager,  6,  18,  19.  27,  55,  59,  126,  144,  174. 
Wagner,  Lieut.  Rodolph,  169,  176,  266. 
Wake.     Governor  of  Bombay,  68. 
Walpole,  75,  77,  79- 
Walsh,    John.     Returns    to    Madras,    77  ; 

Supervisor    of    the    West    Coast,    206 ; 

Alderman,    20S  ;    Under-searcher,    244  ; 

Mayor,  260.     Ref.  89,  151,  202. 
Wandiwash,  178. 
War,  3,  4,  5,  8,  239. 
Wardlaw,  Ralph.      Free  merchant ,  131. 
Ware-houses,  2,  So,  115. 
Warren,  233,  240,  265,  267. 
Waiwick,  45,46,  47,  51,  66,  126,  135,  137, 

143,  149.  151>  !52>  J92,  201,  266. 
Watson,    Charles.     Rear-Admiral     of    the 

Blue.     In  charge  of  the  Squadron,  229  ; 

his  allowances,  230  ;  ill,  250  ;  to  Bombay, 

250.     Ref.  246,  258. 
Wax,  from  Tavoy,  210. 
Wax  cloth,  1. 
Weavers.     Fled     to     the     seaports,     83  ; 

plundered,  113. 
Webb,  Capt.,  149. 
Webster,  Thomas,  98. 
Weights,  1 49,  167,  192,  241. 
Wells,  William.      Lieut,  of  Artillery,  190  ; 

to  Bengal,  196 
Wendler,  Peter  de.     Surgeon,  127. 
West    Coast,    174,     180,    202,    205.     See 

Sumatra. 
Westcott,  Foss.     Arrives,  61  ;  on  Council, 

56,  109,  115,  157,  228;  Store-keeper,  62, 

88  ;  Joint  Commissary  to  receive  Madras, 


80  ;  to  examine  into  Church  and  Charity 
stocks,  90  ;  Ambassador  to  Nasir  Jang, 
94,  114;  to  examine  F.S.D.  accounts, 
123  ;  disapproves  the  policy  with  Shahji, 
129;  Resident  at  Ingeram,  137,  150. 
Ref.  113,  148,  172. 

Westgarth,  152,  184,  218,  224. 

Wheat,  12,  65. 

White,  Capt.  Thomas,  222,  259,  267. 

Whitehall,  3,  230. 

Whitehall,  John.     Writer,  164,  259. 

White  Town.  See  Madras — Fortifications 
— Fort  St.  George. 

Whitlatch,  Thomas.     Mariner,  108. 

Widdrington,  Capt.,  202. 

Wilkie,  Lieut.  William,  183,  206. 

Wills,  to  be  entered  in  Consultations,  69. 

Wilson,  James.     Surgeon,  77,  90,  96,  116, 

137,  143.  245- 
Wilson,  Nathaniel.     Free  merchant,  131. 
Wilson.     Chaplain,  122. 
Winckelsea,  21,  44,  47,  51,  59,  60,  62,  64, 

65,  70,  91,  128,  188,   189,  240,  253,  255. 

260,  ?66,  267. 
Winchester,  II,  23,  29,  31,  33,  41,  69. 
Wine.     See  Madeira. 
Winter,  Thomas,  159,  187,  202. 
Wird,  David.     Cadet,  267. 
Witherington,  Lawrence.     Capt. -Lieut,  of 

Artillery,  71,  88. 
Wood,  Lieut.     Death,  186. 
Woodward,    Mrs.    Elizabeth.      Pensioned, 

95- 
Woolen-goods  (General),  16,  20,  30,  154, 

161,   162,  163,  189,  192,  220,    221,  223, 

231,  256. 
Woolen-goods  (Varieties)  — 

Broadcloth,  1,  6,  13,  14,  18,  24,  28,  47, 
55,  64,  65,  71,  84,  103,  120,  129,  147, 
149,  154,  168,  174,  187,  202,  203,  213, 
215,  218,  241,  246,  260. 

Long  ells,  14,  55. 

Perpetuanoes,  55,  103. 

Shalloon,  127,  135, 149. 
Woolwich  academy,  165. 
Worral,  Samuel.     Cornet,  67,  91. 
Wright,  John.     Ensign,  49,  62. 
Writers,  77,  87,  90,  92,  151,  195,  222,  225. 
Wynch,  Alexander,  39,  54,  56,   61,  62,  66, 

74,   75,  80,  87,  90,.  109,   115,    123,  129, 

130,  136,  151,  157,  169,  228,  230,  244. 


Vale  (Governor),  91. 

Vanam,  117,  123. 

York,  6,  38,  47,  59,  90,  223,  227,  240,  265. 

Yorkshire  Grey,  18 1,  223. 

Young  Eagle,  59,  90. 


Zeigler,  Capt.,  245. 


ERRATA 


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